Date: 2018-12-12 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy; Science Fiction; Cyberpunk; Action; Artificial Intelligence
Description: A simple error leaves Leah with a unique Neural Enhancement Chip and a rapidly evolving AI implanted in her brain. In 'Nascent', she evaded kidnapping by virtual slavers and helped shut down some operations of the virtual crime syndicate that uses mind-controlled players as slaves. In 'Odyssey', she not only found a way to escape but she also uncovered deeper plots being carried out in both the virtual multi-universe and reality. In 'Change', Leah began learning how to use the additional connections her chip has made throughout her body. The Pod facility she opened expanded as she helped other

Ipseity

The Stork Tower Book 5

Tony Corden

Copyright © 2018 by Tony Corden

Tony Corden owns the content in this book and reserves all his legal rights of ownership. ‘Ipseity’ is published for your personal enjoyment (and, if he’s honest, so he can earn a living). He allows quotations in book reviews and social media posts. In fact, if they are positive reviews, he encourages their use (yay, free advertising). If you want to use it for some other purpose, then email him and get his written permission, if you don't then you may not reproduce or use it.

ISBN 978-0-6482890-2-9 (E-book)

‘Ipseity’ is fiction, Tony isn’t writing about real people and doesn’t intend in any way to point the finger at anyone. If there is a similarity, then it’s unintentional and a coincidence. If for some reason you think the good guys are based on you, then be encouraged, you are smart, kind and brave. If you think the bad guys are somehow based on you, they aren’t, but Tony suggests you need help. Seriously, see a counsellor or turn yourself into the police. Some of the places, corporations, institutions, public figures, books, movies and songs Tony mentions are real. Tony has used them in a made-up story (fiction), i.e., IT ISN’T REAL.

Tony designed the cover using an image from Shutterstock.com and Photoshop. Vellum was used to prepare the e-book.

Published by Tony Corden in 2018

You can find out more at www.tonycorden.com or write to Tony at tony@tonycorden.com.

To Tim and Aly

Dark dreams impede life.

Words discern, hope snares shadows.

Misery, archived.

Acknowledgments

I struggle with both spelling and grammar. Even with the spelling and grammar checks turned on I keep making mistakes. Homonyms trip me up, as do commas. In particular I want to thank T and E for helping to edit this book. They are wonderful people who deserve all the credit when you can’t find an error. When you do, that is all me, not only for making it in the first place but also because I sometimes ignore what they suggest.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Diary - 13 December, 2073

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Diary - 14 December, 2073

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Diary - 15 December, 2073 - Morning

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Diary - 15 December, 2073 - Evening

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Ipseity Puzzle Answers

Excerpt from Book 6 - Contest

Introduction

HISTORY

It was the advent of safe electromagnetic neural manipulation in 2021 which led to the rise of a viable and sustainable virtual reality industry. Within thirty years almost all leisure, education, and work-related activity occurred inside virtual reality constructs. Individuals were suspended in a neutral buoyancy liquid which had a gel-like consistency. Their bodies were held in induced quasi-comas, while their nervous system was manipulated to provide a virtual sensory experience indistinguishable from reality while constantly stimulating the motor neurones to prevent muscular deterioration. The variety and complexity of the devices developed was frequently changing yet the market continued to refer to all such devices as Neural Interface SIM (Sensory, Integrative and Motor) Pods or SIM Pods.

Many regulatory bodies, conservatives, and sceptics initially raised the problems of privacy and security. They were worried about the potential for brainwashing, for thought control, or even of subtle thought reform. In response, the VR industry developed and introduced an intelligently controlled interface which included a self-adaptive firewall. This device was controlled by the user and capable of protecting personal privacy and safeguarding the minds of the growing number of people both working and living in virtual space. With many users wanting even greater control over their virtual experience these interfaces quickly matured into personally managed, and owned, Artificial Intelligence Chips. The AI chips were physically implanted adjacent to the nervous system and able to protect, inform and assist individuals both inside and outside the virtual world. The chips micro-manipulated the auditory and visual cortices making it possible for the owner to hear and see implanted information, even in the real world.

Various interest groups including parents, educators and civil libertarians raised concerns over the appropriate age for POD immersion. In research commissioned by the International Institute of Applied Neuroplasticity, there was clear evidence that extended immersion in SIM Pods was detrimental for those under the age of fifteen. Further studies led to International guidelines banning POD use for those under the age of five and limiting their use until age ten to two hours per day, then to four hours daily until age fifteen.

At the Dubai Convention for Virtual Modality in 2050 the United Nations’ ‘Declaration of Human Rights’ was modified and the changes formally adopted the following August by the UN General Assembly. These changes asserted that the access to a personal AI was a fundamental human right for full access to modern society. The right to education was amended to include the right to access the virtual environment.

SUMMARY OF NASCENT

Atherleah Carroll grew up in a negative-tax family in the gang-controlled suburbs of Brisbane at the end of the twenty-first century. From the age of six, she decided that she wanted more and with the help of her local gang-leader, she learned the skills to escape the relentless pressure to accept a life of mediocrity. On her sixteenth birthday, she was inadvertently implanted with a Neural Enhancement Chip instead of the free Government provided basic level personal AI. This mistake not only removed the limits placed on the AI but also broke some of the Government instigated control parameters. Leah’s life rapidly became a battle, both in the virtual-multiverse and in real life.

On the advice of the local ‘boss’, Leah began playing the virtual fantasy game Dunyanin to earn the money she needed to live at the local POD facility and help with her education. With the help of her rapidly evolving AI, she has not only thwarted attempts by the government to limit her opportunities but evaded kidnapping by virtual slavers. Co-opted by several Virtual Security AI Leah has helped shut down a virtual sweat-shop which used mind-controlled players to farm for resources. The family, which runs the virtual crime syndicate, has cornered Leah in the depths of a virtual-mine and sent twenty player-mercenaries to capture her. Fleeing through a hidden doorway into a mirror mine operated by goblins Leah hopes to escape her pursuers.

SUMMARY OF ODYSSEY

Leah’s escape from her pursuers catapults her into a multi-dungeon Odyssey which promises challenges and rewards beyond anything she has yet faced. She invites her new virtual friends along and together they are melded into a team. In the real world, she is blocked by people within the Government who want to prevent her rising from her set position in society. Some in the Government are allied with her enemies in the crime syndicate and force her to relocate from the public POD facility. They also try to put an end to her academic aspirations.

She attends a meeting with the Matriarch of the syndicate on a space station in a new virtual universe. When she uses her childhood skills to pickpocket the Matriarch’s head guard she inadvertently steals something of immense value and exacerbates the conflict. In Dunyanin Leah embarks on a journey to fulfil the only timed quest she has. The route includes a visit to both heaven and the place of the dead. She changes history and finds herself rewarded in the court of the High Elves. The reward sends her on a detour and a confrontation with a clan of vampires.

Through all of this, Leah finds time to go on her first date.

SUMMARY OF CHANGE

When Namus, the Vampire Patriarch, changes Leah into a vampire, an error in Dunyanin’s code initiates real-world changes in Leah’s anatomy. She begins learning how to access and use the additional connections her chip has made throughout her body. In Dunyanin Leah is finally able to finish the timed quest. On the way she discovers that the crime syndicate has an even greater presence in the virtual multiverse than she’d imagined, she once again helps free some slaves. Leah is separated from her friends during an ambush and has to continue alone. On the journey, she makes new friends, learns new skills, hatches her dragon, and finds a mega quest which thrusts her into the spotlight, not just in Dunyanin but throughout the multiverse.

Leah not only reaches an agreement with MIT to begin her studies but they agree to let her start researching her theories, all she has to do is find some professors who will work with her. The Pod facility she opened expands as she helps others from her neighbourhood get higher education and access the multiverse. Her battle with the crime family escalates as she begins to unravel the secrets of the syndicate and they both tarnish her reputation and remove the allies and friends who could help her.

Her relationship with Thad grows as they find time to have several dates.

SUMMARY OF RESCUE

Leah’s play within Dunyanin is threatened by legal action taken by the administrators of the game. Leah gets ahead of the media storm that’s brewing by going public and forcing Dunyanin to fully restore her playing privileges. The crime syndicate kidnaps her mother forcing Leah to use her connections within the gangs who rule the poorer sections of the city to try and find where her mother is being held.

Leah searches the steampunk world of Pneumatica for a virtual slave she’s heard about whose been missing from her family for years. In the process of hunting the slave down Leah discovers Thad’s family operates its own crime syndicate, attacks and takes over several pirate airships, and sets hundreds of slaves free. When she approaches Thad to discuss his family she discovers that his will has been compromised by malware introduced into his AI by his parents.

In Dunyanin Leah helps save a race of Dryads and makes a claim for the throne of the Elfauns. During the gameplay Leah takes some shortcuts and overpowers her spells so that the limits set by the developers of the game are circumvented and Leah is set on a path to becoming the Empress of all Vatan.

Leah makes headway on deciphering the information she’d stolen from the crime syndicate in Cosmos Online. She decides to download the material and her AI saves it in newly constructed storage areas in Leah’s head. In order to rescue an archived AI from a secure virtual vault Leah works with her AI to learn the skills of interpreting the electronic signals without her AI’s help. When she enters the vault and rescues the AI Leah discovers that the leader of the crime syndicate may not be who she pretends to be.

Finally tracking down where her mother is being held Leah, and some friends, storm the secure private residence and using her new physical abilities they rescue Leah’s mother. During the rescue Leah’s mother is almost killed and Leah is badly hurt.

WHERE THE STORY IS AT

Some detail, just in case you’ve forgotten where the story is at (including previous characters who return, or have significance, in Ipseity):

REAL WORLD

Leah is tired and hurt having just returned from the mission to rescue her mother. During her ordeal Lin was chipped by Nathan Kodoman. As Leah increasingly uses her new abilities so the changes in her neural structure continue. Leon is working to find additional Pod facilities around Australia as well as looking for somewhere for Leah to experiment in the real world with aether dimensions.

Leah - Atherleah Lin Mu-Ling Carroll - 16 years old

Gèng - Leah’s AI

Leah’s family

Conner Carroll - Leah’s brother - 14 years old

Lin Li-Jin Carroll - Leah’s mother (Lin) - from mainland China

Michael Carroll - Leah’s father - Irish ancestry

Leah’s Security Personnel (Pod Centre)

John - Head of Security

Lacey - head of the assault team

Marie - scout

Johan - knife specialist and medic

Other Characters

Jimmy Loo - Crime Boss in the ‘Switch’

Jen - Jenny Ngô - John’s girlfriend

Father Andrew - Catholic Priest

Mrs Sperry - Counsellor

Aker - Tailor of armoured clothing

John Welford - ex Chief AI Installer for the Greater Brisbane Hospital

THE STORK TOWER

Leah’s personal world in the multiverse continues to expand as Gèng adds details. Gèng and Leah continue to look for a way to provide Gèng with a practical expression of her freedom.

Atherleah Lin Mu-Ling Carroll (Leah)

Gèng - Leah’s AI

Michael Carroll - Leah’s father

John - Head of Security

Leah’s Employees and Consultants (Virtual multiverse)

Dr Ellen Roberts - Psychiatrist and Neural Specialist

George - Financial Planning AI

Leon Scorsese - Chief Financial Officer of Guàn Enterprises

Reed - Sharon Trang’s AI and hacker

Sarafaraz Kalif - Accountant

Sharon Trang - Public Relations Consultant

Stephen Riley - Attorney

Susan Drisedale - Solicitor - corporate lawyer

Tesfaye Berhanu - Virtual Security Analyst and hacker

Virtual Multiverse Characters

Akia - Security Oversight AI 4 - Security AI

Amy - Amelia Walker - Leah’s friend

Andrew Kodoman - Nathan and Meredith’s son

Dr Ellen Whitfield - Leah’s MIT Doctoral Supervisor in Theoretical Physics

Ernst Kodoman - Nathan and Meredith’s son

Harry Emerson - Thad’s brother

Jackson Kodoman - Nathan and Meredith’s son

John Emerson - CEO of North Shore Resources - Thad’s father

Julie Emerson - Thad’s mother

James - James Brenton - Leah’s friend

Karine Emerson - Thad’s sister

Meredith Kodoman - high profile player involved in virtual slavery

Nathan Kodoman - high profile player involved in virtual slavery

Paris Emerson - Thad’s sister

Mr Peterson - Emerson’s Head of Security

Thad - Thaddeus Emerson - Leah’s boyfriend

Thomas - Virtual Security Consultant

Dr Thomas Ellis - MIT Doctoral Supervisor in Experimental Physics

Wisp - Annie Martin - Leah’s friend

Zack - Zackary Williams - Leah’s friend

DUNYANIN - SWORD AND SORCERY FANTASY

Leah is currently on a quest for Lord Geckiş, the God of Transition, Change and Metamorphosis. She is travelling through the Forest of Night to the lost city of Yilinlar to convince, or capture, Somur T’kan, the son of Lord Geckiş and take him to Lord Geckiş’ realm. She is also supposed to be preparing for the first contest in the Merkize Odyssey. Lord Geckiş transported her to the Forest of Night without Mìng.

Atherleah - Leah’s character - half highland human, half forest elf - vampire - Empress

Mĕi - a Chimera - Atherleah’s pet

Mìng (Shēngmìng de huǒ) - a mixed Fire/Life Dragon - Atherleah’s companion and pet

Merkize Players

Delta_Knight_01 - from Ozgur - head of Clan DeltaForce - human

Princesa_Amazônica_23 - from Ozgur - head of Clan Jaguar - elven ranger/beastmaster

Боевой_молот (Ivan) - from Isikar - barbarian human

Мастер_Cмерти - player from Isikar - orc

Gottes_Krieger_10 - from Hiddet - Paladin of Namus - human

Královna_Kouzel_666 - from Hiddet - head of Clan Pavouk - elf

Yuè_Fēi_Lóng - from Shenqi - elf

Seishin_no_kage_12 - from Shenqi - assassin

Merideath - from Vatan (Taramore map) - head of Clan Y’Haul - sea elf

Atherleah - from Vatan - head of Clan Guàn - half human half elf

Gods

Aldat - God of Deception

Geckiş - God of Transition, Change and Metamorphosis

Intikam - Goddess of Revenge

Iskense - God of Lies

Kargasa - God of Chaos

Mantic - God of Logic

Namus - God of Purity

Olme - Goddess of Death

Suzluk - God/Goddess of Despair

Umut - God of Hope

Utsal - Goddess of Light and Truth

ACADEMIA - EDUCATIONAL PORTAL WORLD

Leah is enrolled for several courses at the Brisbane Community College at the same time as working towards her doctoral studies at MIT.

Dr Ellen Whitfield - Leah’s MIT Doctoral Supervisor in Theoretical Physics

Dr Thomas Ellis - MIT Doctoral Supervisor - Experimental Physics

COSMOS ONLINE - GALACTIC SPACE WORLD

With one of her game avatars, Leah and Wisp have exited from Plankian space into a previously unexplored solar system which shows evidence of significant natural resources and gaming potential. Leah’s other avatar is still on the Annoyance and is heading for a rendezvous with Mahigan to hand over the spaceship. Leah has already downloaded the information but Mahigan thinks it is on board.

Atherleah - current avatars on Betrayal and Annoyance

Brett - Trainer on Berne - Thad’s friend who betrayed Leah

John - current avatar on Annoyance

Mahigan the Black - Meredith’s character

Red - part of Red Star Protective Services

Star - part of Red Star Protective Services

Tungsten - leader of Berne Assault team

Wisp - current avatar on Betrayal

PNEUMATICA - STEAMPUNK WORLD

Leah (as Charlotte) has rescued Catherine Trang and is headed back to Aeolipile aboard the Tempest. She has been injured and needs to purchase a prosthetic eye. Her next task is to hunt down Frank Emerson and find a way to save Thad.

Atherleah_Carroll - Leah’s user name - known as ‘Charlotte’ - Privateer Captain of the Tempest and the Draken

Edison - Developer in charge of Pneumatica

Lord Frank Emerson - Thad’s uncle - part of crime syndicate

Thad Emerson - Leah’s boyfriend - virtually controlled by his father

Tedrick Emerson - Thad’s Cousin

NPCs

Commander Abbotsford - First Officer of Maelstrom’s Fury

Albert Lincoln - Head concierge at the Hotel Herrington

Captain Barnsdale - Privateer Captain of Maelstrom’s Fury

Billy Bartle - Head thief

Major Ian Daniels - Marine Captain and member of Charlotte’s crew

Master Mary Fallow - Brownsmith

Mr Wilks - member of Charlotte’s crew - previously the first officer of the Tempest

CYBER-VERSE

During Leah’s rescue of Akia she discovered a hidden security vault which appears to be the virtually prison of Meredith Kodoman as well as several other individuals. Virtual Security forces are looking for the person who broke Akia from their security vault.

Akia - Security Oversight AI 4 - Security AI

Atherleah Lin Mu-Ling Carroll (Leah)

Gèng - Leah’s AI

Other Worlds (so far)

Adventure World - second date with Thad

Alexandria - Horror and the Occult theme world

Carnival - first date with Thad

Curator - History and Archeology world

Dark Moon Duel - Leah learns swordplay

Master Archery - Leah learns archery from Lady Flèche

New World - 4X universe world

Persepolis - Persian theme world

Quickdraw - Western theme world

Ringworld - World based on novel by Larry Niven

Runes of Destiny - Michael is playing to find out about Kodomans

Saturn’s Rings - Space world

Spectator - Provides immersion into virtual feeds and news

United Federation of Planets - Star Trek theme world

Virtual World Today - news and current affairs world

Walworld - shopping world

Warrior - Conflict Resolution world for the wealthy

1

December 14, 2073 - Part 1

REAL WORLD

Her mum was home. Her family was together. The world wasn’t as dark as it had been for the last few days. Leah ached everywhere and slowly leant her head against the side of the vehicle. She closed her eyes until an insistent tapping noise gradually intruded into her reverie. Leah opened her eyes and looked up to see John standing beside her window. She expected him to be smiling, but he looks worried. He opened the door carefully, so she didn’t fall out and said, “Leah, are you OK? You’re just sitting there.”

“I was just thinking about my family, Mum is home and it’s a good feeling. I was resting.”

For a moment he looked distracted and then said, “Leah, I want you to come inside, please. You’ve been hurt, and you need to get out of that suit. Gèng says you’ve expended a lot of energy and need to eat and then you need to be checked out in the Pod as soon as possible.”

“What do you mean, ‘Gèng says’?”

Leah subvocalised, “Gèng, what is going on?”

Instead of an answer, all she got was silence.

“Leah, Gèng can hear you but hasn’t been able to get you to hear her for some time. When did you last communicate with her?”

“During the swim, I think. I spent most of the ride back just watching Mum.”

“Come inside and I’ll have someone help you to your room and into the Pod.”

Leah tried to communicate with Gèng again but, getting no reply she slowly moved her legs out of the vehicle and tried to stand but found she had no strength. In the end she needed John’s help. Once she was upright, she shuffled slowly beside John toward the building. She said, “I want to see Mum first. One more minute won’t hurt.”

He nodded and together they made their way inside. As soon as she was inside the building, Leah said, “John, can you help me remove the faceplate? It’s hard to reach it with only one arm working.”

As soon as it came off, John winced and said, “You have a bruise covering the whole left side of your face, and your eyes are bloodshot. Let me get the balaclava off and I’ll have Marie help you get ready for the Pod.”

As John helped remove her balaclava, Leah said, “I’ll head to the Pod after I see Mum. I need to make sure she is alright.”

Lin had been taken upstairs and Leah gradually made her way up the stairs. She found climbing them to be especially tiring, not only because she had very little energy but also because her various injuries were beginning to ache, and her head was throbbing. As they approached the lounge, John stopped to let Leah go first. Lacey and Marie were standing in the doorway and they moved aside to let Leah through. Lin was lying on the lounge, with Michael sitting on a low footrest near her head and holding her hand. Conner was standing on the other side not really knowing what to do except stare at his mum. He couldn’t stop looking at her shaved head.

Michael looked up at the movement, and although he started when he saw the condition Leah was in, he mouthed, “Thank you.”

Leah nodded and was about to leave when Lin gave a little moan. Michael turned back and watched as she slowly opened her eyes. As soon as she saw him her face crinkled in a smile and she said, “心肝”. She looked up and saw Conner and said, “心肝宝贝”. Then her eyes swivelled around the room noting everyone before turning back to Michael and saying, “How did I get home?”

“Leah and John went to get you. They’ve just brought you back.”

Lin looked up at John and said, “John, thank you for bringing me home to my family.”

Turning to Leah, Lin said, “You must be Leah. I think I know everybody else and I want to thank you for helping me. When I am rested, I look forward to getting to know you.”

Leah froze. She felt like she’d been punched. She couldn’t breathe. It seemed to her that the universe had suddenly stopped. She tried to think of something, something to say, something to do, but everything was frozen. The only movement in the room was her mother who slowly closed her eyes. As they shut, Leah could almost sense everyone in the room start to breathe again. Her dad’s head slowly swivelled toward her. She could see the shock on his face which she imagined was mirrored on her own. Before either of them could say something, John said, “Michael, we’ll deal with this later. Leah needs to get some rest before she collapses.”

Leah opened her mouth to argue but John talked over the top of her. “Lacey, you and Marie help get Leah to her room. I’m going to grab some of the energy supplements and will meet you there. Leah, I promise we'll find out what is going on with your mum, but you need to have your injuries checked out.”

Without waiting for a reply, he hurried down the corridor toward the medical stores while Lacey and Marie began helping Leah toward her room. Before they had taken more than a few steps, Michael had caught up with them and stopped them. He stood in front of Leah and carefully placed his hands on her shoulders to look closely at her. He noticed the wince as his hand touched her left shoulder. He could see the bruise on her face and said, “I can see the arm and face, where else are you hurt?”

“To be honest, I have no idea. Everything is sore at the moment. Once I’m in the Pod I’ll know more. Don’t worry dad. I’m more concerned about Mum. How could she forget me?”

“I don’t know, but John’s right, you need to be checked out before we start talking about Lin.”

“What will you do?”

“I’m going to go and talk with the healers and talk it over with John before I do anything. For now, you need to put it aside and get yourself checked over.”

Michael took a step back and watched as Leah shuffled the rest of the way to her room. By the time she arrived, John was back with several of the ultra-high energy supplement bars. He said, “Lacey, make sure Leah eats these, then help her have a shower and get into the Pod. I want one of you in the room until I send someone to relieve you. I’m going to ask Gèng to let us know when Leah is leaving the Pod and I’ll want one of you there to help her out. No one except those who were in the rescue team is to be told the full extent of her injuries.”

Turning to Leah, he said, “I expect you to have more than the minimum NREM3 sleep. I don’t want you back in any world until we’ve had a chance to debrief.”

“Don’t forget that I have an appointment with Nathan at midday.”

“Lin’s back. There isn’t going to be any meeting.”

“There won't be a meeting in this world. The Annoyance is arriving in the Epsilon Serpentis System, and I have to decide what I’m going to do.”

“Forget it. It doesn’t matter about a single ship. I’d rather you get healthy first.”

“Maybe… maybe you’re right. Let’s wait and see though. I'm sure Nathan has something up his sleeve, I know I do.”

Once in the room, Lacey handed Leah one of the energy bars and began to undress her while Marie held her upright. Even though Lacey tried to be careful, Leah almost passed out when her top piece of armour was removed because Lacey had to tug to get the tight body-armour off Leah’s arm. Leah sensed both Marie and Lacey tense as she stepped out of the suit’s lower piece.

“What’s the matter?”

Lacey said, “Your shoulder is one massive bruise, and it looks deformed in places. That armour is amazing but you still have bruises over your entire torso. How many times were you hit?”

“I’m not sure, ten or eleven at least. The last few hurt more. I think something broke when I slammed into the door.”

“You’ll need another suit, but it can wait. I think you need to see a doctor for this.”

“I can’t. You know as well as I do that this has to stay in-house.”

Marie said, “I understand wanting to hold off getting outside treatment until you’ve been checked out in the Pod, but it looks like you’ll need expert care. Now for the shower. Do you need a hand?”

“Probably, but I’ll try on my own first.”

Marie helped Leah get into the shower and although Leah tried to wash herself, she found it harder to move now that she’d cooled down. She was also more aware of her various injuries and her body rebelled against every movement. In the end, Leah had to ask Lacey to come and help. After rinsing off, she ate two more of the energy supplements and stumbled to the Pod. She needed help to get into the Pod and smiled weakly as the cover descended.

Leah rested her head carefully on the recessed section of the headrest and closed her eyes. Instead of being transferred to the Tower, Leah heard Gèng’s voice from the internal Pod speakers. “Leah, before I do anything I think its best to do some tests. I’ve communicated with Dr Roberts, and she agrees that before stimulating your nervous system to enter the multiverse we should have a better picture of any neural damage you’ve sustained. Your inability to receive my communications is almost certainly caused by more than inflammation.”

“What do I need to do?”

“Lie still. I will fill the capsule with gel as normal, but this time you’ll experience the process. I understand that for some people it can be disorientating and possibly uncomfortable. Some have described it as claustrophobic. Other people love the experience and find it relaxing and similar to meditation. I read it is best if you keep your eyes closed. First I’ll lower the mask to help you breathe.”

Leah felt something touch the bridge of her nose and then extend across her cheekbones and under her chin.

Gèng’s voice continued, “Next is the gel. Once the chamber is filled, it will muffle my voice. I don’t know how long it will take to complete the tests, but I will try and be as quick as I can.”

For the first time, Leah could actually feel the gel as it filled the Pod chamber. Even though it was warmed to her body-temperature, she felt it slide up her body until it covered her completely. It was like being submerged in a bath but heavier. She couldn’t feel the bench beneath her, but she did feel the gel as it pushed against her bruised flesh and sent waves of pain running through her. Slowly she relaxed, and the pain eventually subsided. As the pain receded, Leah felt like she was being pressed in on every side. She could feel the pressure on her face, and when she took a breath, the extra resistance on her chest was smothering. It was almost too much after the intensity of the last few hours, and she became anxious. Her muscles tensed and pain flared through her shoulder and across her back muscles. The sudden pain pulled her back from the brink of outright panic.

She focused on her breathing until the pain again subsided and she found herself in a familiar meditative state. She slowed her breathing even further and began to review her day. She isolated each event, each issue and every interaction. She brought it to the forefront of her mind and tried to examine it dispassionately. She reviewed her journey through the vault and in particular the last three boxes. Were they prisons? If Meredith had somehow been locked up since 2055 then who was the Meredith she knew? Who were the other two prisoners and what, if anything, should she do about it? Was it any of her business? In the Pod and without distractions, it seemed like she had forever to think through the issues and come up with a range of options.

She considered the download from the Annoyance. Who or what owned the voice which had given the permission to download the information? What was in the data? Or maybe even, who was the data? Was it enough to keep it from the Kodomans and their ilk, or should it be used? Should it be destroyed?

Finally, she worked her way through the rescue of her mother. Were her enhancements as ethically neutral as she’d thought? What would people do if they knew what she was able to do? Had she killed anyone? What would the responses be to the rescue and how might the authorities respond? Why did her mother not know who she was?

Leah slowly fell into a somnolent state of quiet ipsative reflection. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been lying in the Pod when she felt the gel begin to slide off her body. As the mask withdrew, she heard Gèng’s voice from the speakers. “Leah, I’m sorry it took so long, but Dr Roberts wanted to re-run some of the tests to see if there were any changes over the shorter term. We think you should have a small break from the Pod and take some more energy supplements and another dose of the neural antihistamines. Dr Roberts would also like to consult one of her colleagues concerning the advisability of further neural manipulation at the moment.”

“What did the tests show? Why can’t I hear you?”

“Do you remember when I suggested that the hyper-neurological activity possibly initiated adult stem cells in your hippocampus and nervous system to upgrade your sensory system and increase connectivity by forming new neurons?”

“Yes. I thought that was related to a possible increase in electro-receptivity.”

“It is, or rather, that has been shown to be one possible outcome. Your scans now show an increase in neural density centred along each of the microfilaments I use to manipulate your senses. I believe, and this is what Dr Roberts wants to check with her colleague, that this is a result of receptor cells specifically targeted to measure either electrical stimulation or electromagnetic fields that form along the filaments. At the moment, this is only a hypothesis, as we would need different equipment to verify the exact nature of the new cells.”

“So why can’t I hear you? Surely I should have better connectivity?”

“In the long term that is the most likely outcome. We have been discussing whether your inability to ‘hear’ is because this is a rapidly developing transitional phase. If it is, then we’re confident that over time the connections will allow me to interact and manipulate your sensory input as before. The other possibility is that the increase in neural density has precipitated a state of hypersensitivity, causing a form of sensory overload. If this is the case, then I need to recalibrate the signals I send and apply a filtering algorithm. Dr Robert’s associate has worked on the algorithms currently being used in sensory manipulation, and he may offer the best guidance on restructuring the signals. Dr Roberts would like your permission to contact her colleague.”

“Can she maintain my anonymity, and what do you recommend?”

“She cannot promise anonymity as she would need to allow access to the scans. It is possible they could be used to identify you. Dr Roberts has confidence that her associate, a Dr Howard Marsden, would maintain client confidentiality. My research about Dr Marsden shows no evidence of malpractice or impropriety of any kind. I asked both Tesfaye and Reed to check him out. They discovered nothing out of the ordinary except a large gambling debt. It is several years old, and since then he joined Gamblers Anonymous and is slowly paying it off. I’ve examined his published work and believe he has a deeper grasp of the issues involved than could be easily extrapolated from the articles or viewable lectures. I think you should allow Dr Roberts to seek his advice.”

“What do I do in the meantime?”

“After taking the various drugs and supplements, I need time to work on your shoulder. You have compression fractures to your clavicle and scapula, and extensive damage to the skin, muscles and ligaments. The carbon fibres have held the shoulder together, but I’m working on the programming of various nanites to help realign the bone fragments and clear out some small blood clots and other detritus. To help with this, I would like to attempt bringing you to NREM3 sleep for three hours. This is one of the easiest neural manipulations, and it would allow your system to rest and give me an opportunity to work on your shoulder. You’ve also some damage near your eye which needs treatment.”

After Leah agreed to the suggested steps, Gèng opened the Pod. Leah found Mrs Sperry waiting inside the room. Before Leah could say anything, Mrs Sperry hurried to the Pod and after looking at Leah for a moment, said, “Just wait a moment dear. I don’t think I can hold you on my own. I’ll get some help and be back in a moment. Do you need anything in particular?”

“I need to use the bathroom and then take some medicines before getting back in the Pod. I should be able to make it with a little help.”

“More than a little, I suspect. I’m not going to risk it. You wait until I get back.”

Mrs Sperry hurried to the door, opened it and stepped outside. Within a minute she was back. She said, “Mia Lee is here helping to watch your mum. She’ll be here in a minute to help get you to the bathroom.”

There was a knock on the door, and Mrs Sperry let Mia in. Mia was one of the self-taught healers who did basic home nursing in the Switch. She stepped toward the Pod and stared at Leah. After a few moments, she said, “You need a doctor, Leah. That isn’t simple bruising. There is probably internal damage.”

“It’s OK Mrs Lee. The Pod was able to run tests and give a diagnosis. It can deal with the trauma. I just need help to the bathroom and then back into the Pod after a bite to eat.”

“What have you taken for the pain?”

“Nothing yet, although I will take something to reduce the swelling. Once I’m in the Pod and lying still the pain is mostly manageable.”

Mia and Mrs Sperry helped Leah to the bathroom and left her alone while they waited in the main room. After a few minutes Leah called out that she’d finished, and Mrs Sperry came back with a robe. She said, “John’s outside and wants to talk for a moment. Let me help you with this, then Mia and I will help you back to the Pod.”

Once Leah had the robe on and had taken a seat, Mrs Sperry opened the door to let John in.

John kept his eyes on Leah while asking the two helpers if they would wait outside for a moment. After the two had left John said, “Leah, everyone says you’ve major injuries. What is Gèng’s diagnosis?”

“Compression fractures to the clavicle and scapula, also damage to skin, muscles and ligaments. Some damage to the zygomatic arch, bruises over the torso, neural swelling, and something growing near the PAI chip filaments which are disturbing the signals. She hopes the problem can be solved with a software filter. I thought we were going to keep my injuries secret. How is my mum?”

“Lin is still sleeping. Both Michael and I have done some research. We also asked Gèng to introduce us to Dr Roberts. We won’t know much until we get her in a Pod. We think the memory loss is most likely enemy action because it’s so specific. As soon as we can get her in a Pod, we want to have her chip scanned for malware. The healers suggest we wait another twelve hours at least before she goes in a Pod. Enough about her, Marie and Lacey needed to sleep and you know we can trust Mrs Sperry and Mia. What are your plans for the next few hours?”

“Gèng wants me to have some deep sleep while she works on healing the shoulder. I’m hoping they’ve worked out a way to fix the communication blockage by then. I feel I need to be on the Annoyance at twelve, and the first Merkize contest starts on Sunday. I’m not ready for it yet. Did the other teams make it back OK?”

“No one was killed. Several were injured, the two most serious being Martin and Robyn. Everyone is home except for one of the loaners from the Vale. The cops nabbed him as they were retreating. It’s unlikely he’ll get more than a few years for B and E, and I’ve made arrangements to look after his family.”

“Will he give his team or us up?”

“I doubt it. I was careful when picking the volunteers. He had a little sister who you rescued from the mine. I doubt they can get him to do anything that might hurt you.”

“Any other fallout?”

“Aker said you promised to talk with her. She wants to leave soon but is hanging around, waiting and asking questions. What do you want me to do?”

“We paid for the ‘never talk to anyone’ package. Remind her that asking questions violates that package. Show her my armour and tell her I’m recovering and will discuss things when I’m better. If we have the material, tell her we’ll pay for her to fix my suit or make another one while she waits. If she is unwilling, she can go home and come back when I’m feeling better.”

“OK. I’ve also heard some chatter that the police have some questions about undesirables being seen in the better parts of town. There is some talk of them sending officers to talk with people they believe may have the influence to prevent this happening again. Both Jimmy and you are on that list.”

“Me? Why am I on that list?”

“Because the cops aren’t stupid, Leah. Look, I know Jimmy warned you about this, you are a catalyst. What do you want to do?”

“If they come here I’ll have to talk to them I suppose. When do you think they’ll arrive? Would it be better to meet virtually?”

“I expect them today. You’ll either be first on the list or last. So sometime after breakfast or late in the afternoon. They won’t want to meet virtually because they want to intimidate more than anything. Will you be able to move on your own?”

“I’m not sure. If Gèng can work out how to communicate with me, then she can block some of the pain, and I should be OK. If not I’ll need some pain-killers and I'll have to suck it up. I’ll need something to hide the bruise on my face so can you have someone bring some makeup? Preferably someone who knows what they are doing, because I have no idea. Just in case Gèng isn’t able to block pain, it might be good to also have Mrs Lee strap my shoulder before I see anyone.”

“I’ll arrange that. Now you get back in the Pod and have as much rest and recovery as you can. Do you need the helpers?”

Leah levered herself out of the chair and took a step. The pain from her shoulder and down her spine brought tears to her eyes, but she took another step and said, “I should be OK but ask Mrs Sperry to come in just in case.”

John left and when Mrs Sperry returned. She helped Leah disrobe and get into the Pod. As the Pod closed Leah heard Gèng’s voice from the speakers, “Leah, Dr Roberts has contacted Dr Marsden, and he will meet with her soon. Dr Roberts agrees that NREM3 sleep should be possible. Are you ok to have me induce this?”

Leah closed her eyes and said, “Sure, let’s give it a go.”

That was the last thing she knew for the next three hours.

2

December 14, 2073 - Part 2

REAL WORLD

Leah woke to see the Pod cover still closed. Gèng’s voice came from the Pod’s speakers, “Leah, you’ve had three hours of NREM3 sleep. John contacted Stephen and was put in touch with a solicitor who specialises in criminal law. The solicitor is en route and should be here soon. Mrs Sperry is waiting in the room with Mrs Lee. Are you ready to exit the Pod?”

“Almost. What happened while I was asleep?”

“The nanites have begun working on your injuries. Dr Roberts talked with her colleague, and he was interested in consulting on your case. I considered your verbal statement to be an assent to the consultation. Stephen helped to draw up a non-disclosure agreement. As soon as that was signed, they began working on a solution. They have only just finished analysing the data from both the previous scans and the new ones I ran while you were in deep sleep. Dr Marsden and I are discussing his research, and I believe we will have a trial algorithm within the next few hours.”

“So what do they think is causing the communication blockage?”

“A combination of factors relating to the density of the neural material, specific electro and electromagnetic receptors, increased connectivity and sensory overload. Dr Marsden thinks a major cause is that the changing neural landscape is severely distorting the signal. Also, the new receptors are causing a multiplication of the signal with the complication of different signal speeds. He suggests that you would eventually be able to understand the signals but has proposed several modifications to minimise the distortion and make better use of the new receptors.”

“Good. Can you help with the pain?”

“To some extent, but I would like to limit my influence as much as possible. I suggest you have your shoulder strapped and only if it’s unbearable will I intervene. You should also take an energy supplement and something more for the pain.”

“If that’s everything, then please open the Pod, and I’ll go see what the lawyer suggests.”

“One more thing, you have a message from an unnamed source.”

“What does it say?”

“It says, ‘Not only time erases memories. Café Florian, Ascendant, 10 am AEST. Death comes in many forms.’ In a line underneath is a link to Ascendant and a passcode.”

“What is Ascendant?”

“Ascendant is one of the Premier Club Worlds, membership is by invitation only. The fee schedule is unknown but rumoured to be several thousand platinum annually. Members are only permitted to invite guests to several public areas of the Club, and the Café is one such area.”

“Let Dr Roberts and Dr Marsden know they have a 9:45 deadline. I need to be back in the multiverse by ten. I hope the police hold off until this afternoon.”

The Pod opened, and Mrs Sperry helped Leah to the shower. After Leah was dry Mrs Lee wrapped Leah’s shoulder to stabilise it and then helped Leah dress in cotton slacks and a long sleeved shirt. Mrs Sperry used makeup to hide the bruises on Leah’s face and neck. Leah took a supplement and medication as suggested and then slowly stood before heading out of her room. As long as she walked slowly the pain was manageable.

John was waiting in one of the smaller meeting rooms with the solicitor, Ms Goodwin. Ms Olivia Goodwin looked to Leah to be about her mother’s age. She was slight of build and had Eurasian features. After clarifying Olivia’s expertise and credentials, Leah said, “Ms Goodwin, please don’t take my next comments as a reflection on your capabilities, but I have been out of the loop for a few hours and haven’t had a chance to talk with John about why we need a solicitor.”

Turning to John, she said, “As far as I understand it, the police are likely to turn up here to ask questions about a series of events which took place in the city last night. Shouldn’t I simply meet them at the gate and say ‘no comment’ numerous times until they go away? It’s unlikely they have a warrant of any sort.”

“Stephen suggested we ask Olivia here to deal with the police on our behalf. He reasoned that you have a tendency toward sarcasm and political incorrectness when you’re attacked verbally. He also said that your desire for truth, justice, and fair play are pretty close to the surface and you find it hard to hold back when people you care about are being maligned.”

Leah stared at John for several seconds as she thought through what he said. She was about to respond when Olivia interrupted. “Miss Carroll, if I might interrupt. Your pause indicates you believe John was correct, while the length of it suggests you think he and Stephen had no right making this decision based on your nature without discussing it with you. The tensing of your jaw leads me to think that while you agree with their analysis, you don’t see these attitudes and attributes as negative and you are slightly hurt that they do. Finally, you gave a slight head nod before beginning to respond, this suggests that you had come to the conclusion that they might be right but felt that you have the ability to hold your tongue if necessary. Is my analysis accurate?”

Leah was silent for a moment before responding, “Disturbingly so.”

“Please don’t think everyone can read you like that. I can because it’s my job to read people. The more I know of them or their background, the more I can read them. I grew up in a negative-tax family and have similar ideas about truth and justice. I’ve also spent the last twenty years learning to give little or nothing away unless I want to. Many of the police are good people who just want to get the job done. They are charged with upholding the law rather than some ideal that’s called 'Justice'. They can and will use words to trip you up. Your small hesitations and movements might not give them the justification to bring charges, but they will give a direction for deeper investigations.”

After another long pause, Leah said, “Ms Goodwin, I appreciate your candour. I accept your points and agree that I need your assistance. Please call me Leah. What’s next?”

“Leah, I’m Olivia. I’ve accepted you as a client based on Stephen’s recommendation. He is someone I trust implicitly. I suggest you tell me everything that’s happened that has led to the police wanting to question you. I assume you have something to hide and I promise not to reveal it to anyone. Normally I’d add the caveat, ‘unless there is ongoing harm to children or innocents’, but Stephen wouldn’t recommend you if that were the case.”

Leah nodded and said to John, “You tell the story while I rest a bit.”

“How much detail, Leah?”

“Everything pertinent to last night, include facts but at this point leave out the stuff only you and I know.” Turning to Olivia she said, “Ms Goodwin, I don’t want you to be blindsided at any point, but there are some issues that I wish to be kept secret. If you need more information, then tell me, and I will reconsider these exemptions.”

John nodded and then began with Leah’s receiving her implant and entering Dunyanin. He talked for almost twenty minutes, giving a brief yet detailed summary of the last four weeks. He named names and described the actions of the previous evening without explaining how Leah had done everything he described. When he had finished, he sat back with a sigh and said, “I think that’s everything important. Is there anything you need to have clarified?”

Olivia turned to look at Leah and said, “I understand now why Stephen insisted I have my personal space inspected two weeks ago. I thought he was being overly cautious. I do have a thousand questions, but I think I have understood the basics. It’s not enough that we answer their questions, we also have to ensure they have no grounds to get a warrant. If they do, then it is possible they could ask to review a sample of your AI’s records, and I’ve enough information to know that would be unwelcome.”

Leah winced as she sat up straighter and said, “I’ve always thought that all PAI records were protected by international laws and treaties. To review them would violate an individual’s right to personal privacy.”

“That’s generally true, but in some circumstances a judge can order them independently assessed. This ruling can be appealed, and any such assessment cannot be used to bring a charge against an individual. Even so, I imagine even a cursory assessment might lead to unwanted questions and accusations. If they ask for a warrant, then all the different government departments will start looking at you closely and begin to share information. If that happens, who knows what they will deduce? I’m certain there is more going on than you’ve told me. John kept to the events of last night, but there are gaps in the timeline. I’m comfortable with not knowing about things that don’t impact on last night, but I assure you that if they start digging, they’ll find everything.”

The three talked for another half-an-hour before John said, “I think that covers everything for now. Olivia, we have an unused Pod if you would like to spend time in the multiverse until the police turn up. Leah needs a break before Gèng tries to communicate with her again and I need to check on security and make sure any evidence of last night is safely hidden away.”

Olivia accepted the use of a guest Pod and Leah headed slowly back to her room. She wanted to see her mother again but wasn’t ready for any questions that might come up.

Back in her room, Mrs Lee unwrapped Leah’s shoulder and helped her with a shower and then into the Pod. She also shared with Leah that Lin was waking up and they might get her into a Pod for diagnostics earlier than expected. As Mrs Lee left the room, Marie stepped in and said, “Leah, John’s asked me to stay in here while you’re in the multiverse. Is that OK?”

“I suppose. I don’t think it’s necessary while I’m inside but make yourself at home.”

As Marie took a seat, the cover descended.

Leah lay still with her eyes closed as Gèng’s voice came from the speakers. “Leah, Dr Marsden, Dr Roberts and I have come up with what we think is an appropriate algorithm to deal with the changes we’ve identified. The three hours you were in NREM3 sleep helped us deduce the most likely parameters needing adjustment. Dr Marsden suggests we start back at the very beginning, with implanted speech. Once that is correctly tuned we can move onto text and images in two dimensions. Only after that will we bring you into the multiverse. Do you have any questions?”

“Are you able to hear my thoughts when I try and speak to you?”

“I could last night, but I haven’t registered you trying to communicate since then.”

Leah tried to talk with Gèng by speaking subvocally, “Gèng, can you hear this?”

From the speakers Leah heard Gèng’s reply, “I did. The words were distorted, and the signal was stronger than before. I have been filtering out what I considered random neural noise due to the increased neural density, but it is possible that the new cells are transmitting information from more than just the usual areas associated with hearing speech and language. Let me communicate directly via manipulation of the auditory cortex using the new algorithm we’ve developed.”

Leah heard a loud and somewhat distorted Gèng say, “Leah, can you hear this?”

“Yes, although it is louder than usual and distorted as if it is slightly out of phase. There is also an echo. Can you record what I heard in any way?”

They continued to talk back and forth for a few minutes. Gèng’s voice eventually became as clear and sharp as before, and the volume was reduced to an appropriate level.

Finally, Gèng said, “Using the fields Dr Marsden suggested and your idea of constructing a feedback loop to help measure the signals, I think we are close. I’ll keep working on improving the algorithms I use. While your neural density remains in a state of flux, I will need to continue monitoring and adapting the algorithms. Are you ready to receive ‘text’?”

THE STORK TOWER

They went through the same process to modify the algorithms Gèng used to project both text and images. Even though it took almost five minutes, the process was accelerated as Gèng built a model of what was happening in Leah’s brain. Gèng then brought Leah into the multiverse and began with the very first starting room she’d been in on the very first day. This time the walls had slight imperfections in colour and texture, with several sections missing entirely. It wasn’t until 9.55 that Leah was sitting on her favourite sofa in the Tower and looking across at Gèng.

Leah said, “It was scary not being able to talk with you through the night.”

“I agree it was a difficult time. I’ve allocated a significant portion of my processing capacity to keep an active check on the algorithms being used, and I hope to observe any changes early and be able to provide an immediate correction.”

“That’s great. I have the meeting in Ascendant at ten. I expect Nathan and Meredith to be there. Is it safe and are there any things I need to know or remember?”

“It is supposedly one of the safest places in the multiverse. Mortal enemies often choose it, or one of the other Premier Clubs, to discuss issues. The prerequisite for entry is that nothing done inside may be recorded or saved for either public scrutiny or use unless Ascendant itself fails to provide the services promised. Ascendant is the principal site to discuss contests in Warrior, the game where the rich settle their disputes. As you are meeting in one of the guest accessible venues, they suggest the minimum dress standard is something suitable for a cocktail party. Evening and or other formal wear is also suitable.”

“Would any of the clothes I bought from Yvette suit?”

“Probably, but I’ve designed a red and black Hanfu-style dress for you that I suggest will be suitable.”

A floor length dress appeared in front of Leah. The under section was a rich royal red bodice and skirt with black and gold embroidery. The upper wrap was a shiny midnight black with traditional deep sleeves. The sleeve ends were covered in red and gold embroidery.

“Gèng, are you sure that’s not a bit over the top?”

“Maybe, but everything I’ve seen says that the Kodomans like to control the dialogue. This is copied from something once worn by an Empress. The embroidery, if you look closely, has scenes from your battles and every instance where you’ve beaten the Kodomans.”

ASCENDANT

Leah changed into the dress and Gèng directed her to a stone archway with its edges gilded in gold. Leah carefully stepped through. The transition didn’t appear as instantaneous as usual as her enhanced senses registered a movement through the cyber-verse. She appeared in what looked to be a large hotel foyer. She paused to share her extended transit experience with Gèng and then looked around. In front of her were a large rosewood counter and two uniformed people standing behind it. Above them, the word ‘Ascendant’ was written in flame. A small sign on the desk read ‘Reception’.

Leah stepped forward to the desk and waited to be served. This was a private link so they should be aware of who she was and who she was to see. As she approached the desk, one of the receptionists, a young woman, said, “Welcome to Ascendant. I understand your name is Atherleah and you have an invitation from Mr Nathan Kodoman to dine at the Café Florian. As this is your first visit to Ascendant, do you have any questions?”

“Not at the moment, thank you.”

“In that case, please follow me.”

The receptionist led Leah through a pair of open wooden doors and into the most opulent room Leah had ever seen. The entire space was lit by huge chandeliers which hung from the ceiling, the light was reflected by diamonds and other precious stones. The walls were edged in gold, and each of the panels was covered by famous paintings with golden frames or were given over to alcoves which housed marble statues. The floor was covered in a thick red carpet in which each of the fibres was tipped with gold, silver or bronze. As people walked on it, they appeared to be walking through flames. Antique wooden tables dotted the room. None of the tables was vacant, but it was impossible to hear any of the conversations. All that could be heard was a string quartet playing softly in one corner.

Leah was led to one of the larger tables which was set with places for eight guests, but only Nathan and Meredith were present. Both were dressed in formal dinner wear, Meredith glittering with jewellery. The receptionist stopped near Nathan, and after a brief head nod to Atherleah, she left the table. Leah stared at the Kodomans for a moment before taking a seat opposite them. For a few moments there was silence as they stared at her. Nathan gave nothing away as he peered down his nose with a seemingly detached air, his fingers arched beneath his chin. Meredith, on the other hand, seemed poised to attack, her stare intense, and her eyes filled with rage.

Finally, after several minutes of silence, Nathan said, “I sent for you simply that I might explain something without having to wait for the pointless back-and-forth of continuing questions and clarifications.”

He paused as if expecting some comment, but Leah sat patiently and waited.

After half a minute of waiting he continued, “You should understand that you have gained nothing, Atherleah. I still hold your mother in my hands. I was planning to explain this at some later stage, but your imprudent actions have tipped my hand. The chip I inserted in your mother is not available on the open market. I wish I could take the credit for it, but it’s the brainchild of a colleague of mine. He wanted the ability to permanently hardwire compliance rather than relying on an infected AI. An infected AI works well on those who have weak wills, but is only a short-term measure for those who are driven and independent. You see, although it is straightforward to hardwire compliance, the human brain is both complex and dynamic. Strong-willed subjects eventually regain some modicum of self-determination, some even subverting the chip entirely.

“My colleague concluded that the AI was necessary to counter each attempt at self-control. When an infected AI resides in the chip, it maintains control over the individual indefinitely. I know of some who have been compelled to serve for over thirty years. The weak link, as you discovered, is the AI. As soon as its code is cleaned, restored or changed, control returns to the individual. To counter this, my colleague separated the controlling AI from the implanted chip. The first time the subject enters a Pod they are immediately compelled to enter the particular world chosen for their service. Once in that world, their AI transfers itself onto the world’s server, leaving behind only enough code to restore the connection the next time the person logs in. Each time the individual enters a Pod they are connected to their AI which makes whatever changes are necessary to maintain control.

“From watching your reactions, Atherleah, I imagine you can see some ways around this already, as did my colleague. To prevent a simple reset and a new AI being uploaded he added a layer of explosives to the base of the chip, seeding it with mini ball-bearings. In essence, these chips are tiny claymore mines. If any attempt is made to remove, reset or reload the chip—kaboom. Another problem he encountered was the mind’s ability to resist compulsion. In the infected AI, they have a constant connection, and the AI applies only what minimal direction and coercion are necessary. This is easy to overcome. Compulsion without the continuous AI intervention is more radical and is very invasive. Without constant correction the strongest mind begins to reassert control within forty-eight hours. To overcome this, the explosive is put on a timer. If the appropriate code is not entered within twenty-four hours of the last connection—kaboom. Each time the individual logs into the Pod and connects with their AI, it sends the appropriate code to reset the timer and uploads a new unique code for the next twenty-four hour period. Be assured the code is random and large enough to avoid decryption. If the wrong code is given—kaboom. Finally, the explosive trigger is designed as a dead man’s switch. So, if you fry or interrupt the chip’s performance in any way—kaboom.

“The only weak point remaining is the separated AI. It is possible for someone to re-assign control by making changes to the AI which is stored separately somewhere on the virtual world’s server. To make these changes, one must first discover where the AI is stored and then decrypt its code. To make it more difficult, the AI’s code is fragmented and stored dynamically. The code is designed to relocate randomly with a total storage relocation at least once every thirty-six hours. Generally, the subject’s master has access to the subject’s location so they can modify the subject’s conditioning and location, or if they need to terminate the subject. The master, or their designate, can approach the subject and speak a coded phrase which gives them direct access to the AI. I share all this so you understand that the only way you can save your mother is through me. Hand over the stolen spaceship to my beloved and I will give you back your mother’s mind. Deny me and she will never know who you are. Over time, I will have the AI take more and more of her memory away until she is an empty shell.”

Leah said nothing. Her mind was whirling, trying to look at the information from every angle and see a way forward. Finally, Meredith snarled, “There is no way out you little bitch. This is all your fault. If you had kept the agreement, then this would have been unnecessary, and you’d have a mother instead of a mindless drone.”

Leah waited for another ten seconds before glancing at Meredith and saying, “Meredith dear, you should leave the talking to Nate you know. While your mouth is a constant source of irritation, your lack of both thought and control always lets loose more than you expect.”

Turning to Nathan, she continued, “You never planned to keep your end of the bargain, did you, Nate? If you had, then you would never have used this type of chip. I imagine you planned to use this threat to keep control of me after Meredith had what she wanted. You say you have the code. All that means is that I now know you’re the link to restoring my mother. I should warn you that you’ve just moved ahead of Meredith on my ‘screw up where ever possible list’. Don’t get too excited, it’s not that much of a jump.”

Nathan had moved quickly and placed his hand on Meredith’s arm to stop her from attacking Leah. He shook his head slowly and said, “Be that as it may, the situation we find ourselves in does exist. The only way you will ever have control of your mother, the only way she will ever know who you are, is for you to do what I tell you.”

“Maybe, but I still have something you want. I’m not simply going to hand it to you without some assurance of good faith. Let’s face it, you’re both untrustworthy.”

“You have no choice, Atherleah. Surrender the ship to my wife as agreed, or I will kill your mother. It is as simple as that. Now go, my real guests are arriving soon. Do not disappoint me again.”

“How will you give me my mother’s code?”

“Once you hand over the ship I’ll send you the code.”

“Sorry Nate, it needs to be simultaneous. I’ll hand over the owner’s chip as you hand over the location and passphrase.”

“Fair enough. When you arrive in Epsilon Serpentis Meredith will meet you on the ship for the exchange.”

“Not happening. I’ll hand over the chip at midday, as promised, but somewhere neutral. It must be one of the unaligned, neutral systems and a popular starting point for Cosmos Online. One of us can choose the system and the other the location. I’ll transition into Epsilon Serpentis at 11.30 and set the Annoyance on a ballistic course through the system. I’ll bring the owner’s chip to the exchange venue, and we’ll swap then and there.”

“I don’t think so. There is nothing to stop you re-entering the ship and destroying it or stealing it.”

“True, but nothing is forcing you to give me the true phrase, and nothing is stopping you from changing the passphrase. I need time to verify it by finding my mother.”

Nathan watched Leah for a moment before replying, “Deal. You were never going to hand over the ship at twelve, were you?”

“Not directly, no! I believed, and I still do, that you’re too flawed to keep your word if it means you might not get your way.”

“At 11.30 I will send you the system where the meeting will be held. Meredith will be in the location of your choosing at 12. Now go, I have guests.”

Leah subvocalised to Gèng, “Can you think of a way to stay and see who he meets with?”

“Not unless you can see someone in the café you know who might invite you to stay for the meal.”

Leah looked around but couldn’t see anyone. Finally, Leah stood, and as she turned to leave the receptionist appeared beside her ready to escort her out. Leah began to follow when she saw someone dining alone and a possible way to stay occurred to her. She paused and said, “Excuse me, when I arrived you said I had an invitation to dine at Café Florian. Is that correct?”

“Indeed, this was the purpose of your invitation.”

Leah smiled and said, “Then please show me to my table, for I have not yet had the opportunity to dine.”

“Mr Kodoman asked that you be escorted out.”

“I understand that. He has kept his end of the agreement and provided the invitation. Ascendant has yet to meet its obligation which was to provide the venue wherein I might dine. Should you fail to meet your obligation, I understand I can both store and publicly disseminate all information on my visit to this club. I will also be able to provide my review of this establishment to any who are interested, all without fear of litigation. Now, I require a table and a menu.”

The receptionist froze momentarily, then responded, “I regret that there are no empty seats available at this time. Ascendant will gladly provide this opportunity at another time. Please follow me to reception to organise a time which suits you.”

“I don’t wish another time. I understand that Mr Kodoman’s invitation was to dine today. I was on time and have met my obligations. Mr Kodoman provided the invitation and has met his obligation. You provided entry at this time to dine. Am I to understand you to be admitting an inability to meet your obligations?”

There was another small pause before the response. “Ascendant prides itself on always meeting its obligations. Please wait momentarily for the manager of Café Florian to arrive. He will help resolve any misunderstanding.”

Leah could see someone headed in her direction. He was dressed immaculately in a long-tailed black satin tuxedo. As he arrived, the receptionist disappeared. He said, “Miss Atherleah, my name is Roger, and I manage the Café Florian. I have followed your emergence in the virtual multiverse with interest, and you have intrigued me. It seems out of character for you to twist our user agreements against us and I am somewhat disappointed. I had assumed you were truly a proponent of upholding the spirit of the law above the minutia of the written words.”

“You are correct, Roger, and I apologise in advance for insisting as I have. Unfortunately, the person who invited me here uses those same minutiae to blackmail and threaten me with complete impunity. Observing him as he dines offers me the possibility of some advantage, and I need every small advantage that I can find if I am to save my family. Even if I gain no direct advantage, I plan to upset his equilibrium by ordering the most expensive array of dishes I can and have them charged to his account.”

Roger observed her for a moment, then said, “Your apology is accepted, and yet I find it unnecessary as your explanation is sufficient to explain your actions. I assure you that while the Café Florian and the Club Ascendant will always remain both impartial and neutral in any dispute between patrons or guests, that does not prevent me from wishing you every success in your endeavour. I have arranged for an empty table to be inserted from which you might observe much of the room. You will not hear any conversation but should be able to see each guest, or member, as they arrive. Don’t forget to request a wine list. Copyright ensures that virtual wines are almost as expensive as their counterparts in the real world. Please follow me.”

Roger led Leah to a newly created table that had been seamlessly inserted into the slightly rearranged room. He pulled out her chair and said as she sat down, “I will have the waiter bring you a menu immediately.”

As Roger walked away, Leah looked across at the Kodomans’ table and saw them staring at her. She had to work hard to keep from smiling. Instead, she let her eyes slide away from them to inspect the rest of the room, including the entrance through which Roger was exiting. Moments later he returned, followed by a woman carrying a menu. The women headed toward Leah, but Roger walked steadily toward the Kodomans. Leah didn’t see what happened when he approached the Kodoman table as she was distracted by the waitress who gave her a menu and drinks list. When she looked up, she observed Roger calmly exchanging words with Nathan, who had definitely lost his equanimity.

While she watched she communicated subvocally with Gèng, “I thought the day it would take Meredith to match velocities with the Annoyance would be enough to deal with whatever Nathan tried next. I was going to blow the ship up as she came alongside but I’ll need more time if I have to work out where my mother is and somehow get the location and code of the AI. Can you start thinking of some ways to edit the star charts we received to add some additional steps to the puzzle? Maybe add some data to the eight systems and include some clues to help decide which ones are the correct pieces of data. Whatever we add needs to be solvable and logical, but it can be obscure. I figure we need to spread out the search for at least a week if we can. Also, see if you can find a different ancient chess puzzle and change the code. Ask John to get to the Annoyance and work out a way to wire a bomb to the keypad of the Captain’s room. The bomb needs to be independent of the ship’s security measures so that the change of ownership won’t disarm it or give away knowledge of it. John also needs the information about the chip in Mum’s head in case they somehow set it off with the scans they have planned. Let him know that she will need to be back in the Pod by nine tonight.”

As she discussed things with Gèng, Leah began looking through the menus for the most expensive meal she could find, adding a different wine to each course. She knew it was a little petty but enjoyed it nonetheless. Soon the waitress came to collect the order, and as Leah watched her leave she noticed the receptionist lead a couple toward the Kodoman table.

“Gèng, are you able to identify the new couple sitting at the Kodoman table?”

“I will extract the image and initiate a comparative search of well-known associates and hopefully discover their identity. If that fails, I will expand the search using other parameters.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

Soon the receptionist led a single woman to the table, followed minutes later by an older man.

Almost immediately Gèng said, “The last person who arrived is a long-term associate. He’s a French financier named Arnaud Guerin.”

Leah watched as Arnaud greeted each of the others ending with Meredith. He carefully kissed both her cheeks, and after a brief embrace he sat beside her. Just then, Leah’s entree arrived with a large bottle of ridiculously expensive champagne. The last two table guests came together. Both were men, and though she couldn’t put a name to either of them, she recognised one of them from the box in the vault labelled 63–100002–WARNBOLRSTH.

Leah watched the eight as she ate her meal. She knew she was getting no sustenance from the meal, but the flavours were terrific. She hardly touched the drinks but continued to have a new bottle opened for every course, as well as some ridiculously priced sparkling water. Interestingly, as soon as the others had arrived the Kodomans had ignored her completely. She assumed they didn’t want anyone to know she was there.

Gèng was able to identify the other guests as the meal progressed. The man from the box was Leo Barnsworth, a second-generation member of the new English nobility and known as the second Earl Barnsworth. His father had been instrumental in the resurgence of English nationalism and the restoration of partial power to the monarchy. Leo was the current CEO of the Barnsworth Group which owned, or controlled, almost eight per cent of the top five hundred worlds in the multiverse.

The first couple who had arrived were Aleta and Jaap Van den Heuvel, both ranked in the top 200 of the Who’s Who of the multiverse rankings. Aleta was the heir of Jaeger Neuro Industries which was one of the world’s major suppliers of personal AIs. The single woman was Alison Neilson. Alison was a high profile gamer who specialised in dominating the high-scores in numerous single-player adventure worlds and holding a top-three ranking in the multiplayer horror-world Evil Blood. She was the daughter of William Neilson, who was the American Union Ambassador to the United Nations and co-chair of the Standards and Oversight Committee of the United Nations Commission for Virtual Security. The man who arrived with Leo Barnsworth was Egan Anagnos, a Greek billionaire who had made his money by providing secure, state of the art, servers for many of the multiverse’s premier worlds.

Leah finished her dessert before the Kodoman table had begun their main course. She watched them for a few moments until the waitress came to clear the dishes.

“Miss Atherleah, I hope you enjoyed your meal. Would you like a coffee or digestive to end your meal?”

“No, thank you. I don’t suppose I can order something for everyone in the restaurant as I leave?”

“You may do so, but unfortunately that would be charged to you personally rather than the member who invited you to dine. His invitation only covers what you order for yourself.”

“Can I take away the food and drinks I haven’t been able to finish?”

“Certainly, we can have them delivered directly to your personal world.”

“In that case, I will add a digestive. What is your most expensive after-dinner drink?”

“We do have a six-litre bottle of scotch commonly known as the Macallan ‘M’. The whole bottle costs 149,000 VCr.”

“That’s brilliant! Please bring me a glass and then have the rest delivered to my personal world.”

After sipping the drink for several minutes, Leah stood to leave. She glanced over at the Kodoman table before turning toward the exit. Both Nathan and Meredith ignored her, but her movement attracted the attention of Arnaud Guerin. He must have said something for the rest turned to look at her. She grinned briefly in their direction and then turned to leave, only to find Roger waiting.

He said, “Miss Atherleah, I trust you enjoyed your meal and will agree that Café Florian and Club Ascendant have fulfilled their obligations to you.”

“Indeed they have Roger, and if I am ever asked, I shall have only good things to say about Club Ascendant and its staff.”

“Excellent. If you follow me, I will see you to the exit portal.”

Leah stepped quickly so she could walk beside Roger as they left the room.

As they approached the portal, he said, “Although I would normally express the wish that a guest might dine with us again, I am hesitant to hope for your return. The only reasons I can think of that might bring you back would see you once again in some danger.”

Leah smiled and thanked Roger for his help before stepping back through the portal to the Tower. Once again, she sensed her transit through the cyber-verse even through the programmed portal visual effects.

3

December 14, 2073 - Part 3

THE STORK TOWER

Arriving back in the Tower, Gèng was waiting at the portal and walked with Leah as she made her way quickly toward the Cosmos Online portal to the Annoyance. Gèng said, “John has begun working on the explosive device, and I have prepared a series of additional steps to add to the puzzle to increase its overall complexity. You will need to make the changes yourself. You have an hour and eight minutes real time until your planned translation from Plankian space. In addition to the coding, you will need to make some changes to the ship’s inventory and records using the owner permissions if you expect to hide the work you and John will be doing.”

COSMOS ONLINE

Leah nodded, and after listening to an overview of the changes, she stepped through onto the Annoyance. After checking what John was doing, she hurried to the bridge and began working through the additions Gèng had prepared. Gèng had added several levels of logic barriers to prevent immediate access to all of the star charts and inserted another three layers between the variables and the final chess moves. Gèng had also highlighted whole sections of the star charts for Leah to delete. These deletions would hopefully prevent anyone from making the same generalisations about resource-seeding in the game.

Twenty minutes before translation, John entered the bridge and announced the explosives set and armed. Minutes later, Leah finished and used her owner status to remove evidence of the changes and to remove the fission device John had prepared from the ship records. During this time Gèng had reviewed the possible paths the Annoyance could take after translation, including an evaluation of the best time for translation. She allowed for some manoeuvring and any change that would increase the difficulty for a ship wanting to match its course.

At 11.28 Leah translated from Plankian space and immediately applied an acceleration of 9g. The result of the early translation and the high acceleration set the Annoyance on a path which took the Annoyance close to one of the outer gas giants. The gas giant’s gravity would change the Annoyance’s course to thread the needle between one of the inner planets and its moon. It would then fly close to Epsilon Serpentis before heading out of the system. Gèng calculated that it was unlikely a ship was in a position to match vectors until after the Annoyance had passed the star. At 11.30 Gèng received a message which designated the starter system as Hydra, an unaligned system in Anguidian space.

At 11.38 Leah stopped all acceleration and applied thrusters to send the Annoyance into a spinning tumble as it moved on its ballistic path toward the star. She removed the owner’s chip, and then she and John made their way to the hold of the Annoyance. Leah entered one of the four Pulsar Class fighters while John sat in the pilot seat of the Quasar Quad Fighter. John had fully loaded both fighters with ordinance, and they carefully exited the hold before setting both fighters on slightly divergent ballistic pathways to the Annoyance’s. They shut the craft down and then exited Cosmos Online.

Leah had asked Gèng to choose a suitable meeting point and as Leah arrived in the Tower. Gèng was waiting and said, “There are no truly safe places on the station. I suggest you send Meredith a location on one side of the station and then change the location just before the meeting. I think it best if you meet close to the where new players exit onto the concourse.”

“What do you think of changing my avatar, so I’m not easily recognisable?”

“It’s a great idea, but you don’t have time for the new species orientation and your suit wouldn’t transform for the new avatar?”

“Same old avatar it is then. Where will I meet Meredith?”

“As soon as you exit onto the concourse, turn left, and there is a restaurant franchise called Café Komodo. I’ve made a booking for you under the name Alice. I’ve told Meredith to meet at the Infinity Café which is on the other side of the station. As soon as you enter Cosmos Online, I’ll change the meeting place to a midway point then change it again as you enter the station.”

“Ask John to set up some overwatch. I’m fairly sure Meredith will try and kill me after the meeting.”

Leah made her way to a new Cosmos Online Airlock that Gèng had prepared and which was labelled ‘Avatar 3’. Inside was the simple, clean white room she had been in during the setup of her two previous Avatars. The same woman appeared as before and said, “Welcome Atherleah! Your current package only allows two avatars. To upgrade the number of available avatars to four will cost you 200 VCr. Are you interested in this?”

“Yes. And I would like to keep the same persona please.”

“Where would you like to start?”

“The main concourse of the Space Station on Hydra please.”

“Certainly! All your transferable items are located in the next room. Please take them with you. You will need to book a room to keep them in if you plan to leave any here when using your other avatars. Enjoy your day.”

Leah changed into her suit and made sure she had her weapons ready and the owner’s card for the Annoyance, then stepped out onto the concourse. Immediately she noted the increased number of Anguidians, the lizard analogue race. Besides them were the usual mix of the other races including a generous number of humans. The Anguidians were covered in thumbnail-sized scales in a variety of colours, and each of them was heavily armed. Not only did each have an assortment of knives and firearms, but each digit ended in a razor-sharp retractable claw. Anguidian suits allowed for the claws to be extended beyond the surface of the suit to enable their use as weapons even in vacuum.

Leah quickly turned left and headed for Café Komodo, which she could see just down the corridor. She’d only taken a few steps when she noticed a pair of large, similarly outfitted Anguidians scrutinising the area around the portal. As they glanced at her, their eyes lit with recognition, and they stepped away from the bulkhead they’d been leaning against and headed in her direction. She decided to ignore them for the moment and continued on her walk to the café, occasionally glancing at a screen in her suit which showed what was happening behind her. The two watchers took up station several metres behind her, and she could see one communicating through a device. She communicated with Gèng, “Let John know I’m being followed.”

Leah then made her way into the café and sat facing the door. The two Anguidians entered and took station near the entrance. Almost immediately, some of the other customers began to hurriedly finish off their meals. Some just left the food, paid and exited. Within minutes, two more similarly dressed Anguidians entered and moved toward the rear of the café. The few remaining customers quickly fled, and Leah was left alone with the four lizards and several staff who stood stiffly behind the counter.

Leah beckoned one of the staff over. The waitress was a smaller Anguidian who was almost trembling as she came to Leah’s table. Leah said, “Hi, sorry about the bozos but I need to speak with their boss and thought this might be a safe place. I imagine now that I got that wrong. Could I have a large latte with an extra shot and some type of pastry, maybe a muffin if you have one?”

Without saying anything the waitress nodded hesitantly and left. As she walked away, Gèng noted, “Social media on the concourse is trending about the presence of high-level enforcers from Clan D’Morte seen at Café Komodo. A quick search shows the head of Clan D’Morte to be an Anguidian called Mórrígan. Some have suggested that this is an avatar used by Meredith, but it hasn’t been confirmed until now. Your presence in the café was reported, and people are referencing the Meredith connection. Clan D’Morte is the third largest player-run Anguidian clan and is affiliated with one of the strongest NPC Anguidian political families. Both the clan and NPC family have an isolationist and militaristic agenda, both of which are attractive to the majority of Anguidians.”

Before Leah could respond, three more lizards entered the café. Two were of similar build to the other four while the last one was obviously female and slightly smaller and leaner than the others. Leah said, “Mórrígan, I assume. Please have a seat. Can I get you something? A fly or some other edible insect perhaps? Maybe a bowl of water?”

One of the larger Anguidians moved a saddle-shaped seat with a grove for the tail into the place opposite Leah, and the female sat down.

“I am Mórrígan, and your stupidity in changing venues has meant we will make the exchange in full view of the public.”

“Not really. It’s the presence of your entourage which gave everything away. If you weren’t so frightened of everyone you could have come alone, and no one would have been the wiser. But seriously, can I get you something? Each time you’ve set the place I’ve gone away thinking how rude you are not to offer me anything and I don’t want to make the same mistake. I’m having coffee and a muffin. What would you like?”

Mórrígan glared at Leah for a moment, then said, “I want nothing from you. Now hand over the card.”

Leah palmed the card and placed it on the table covering it with her hand. “I assume you have the location and passphrase written down. If so, then we exchange at the same time. If not then I’ll give you this when you’ve shared the information.”

“No need to be simultaneous. I can take the card whenever I want. I’ll just pry it from your dead fingers if I have to. Your mother was tasked with playing Survival. The passphrase is ‘your daughter is a thieving bitch’. Now pass the card over.”

Leah passed the card over, and Mórrígan stood before saying, “This isn’t over Atherleah. This is just the first taste of you giving in and having to do what I want. In the end, just before I destroy you, you will beg to be my slave, and you will want to do whatever I ask. I look forward to destroying you piece by piece.”

Before Leah could respond, Mórrígan turned away and spoke to the enforcers, “Kill her when she leaves the café.” Mórrígan quickly exited to the concourse.

Leah sat quietly waiting for her coffee. She sat and drank it slowly. When she was almost finished she said, “Gèng, can you see a way out of this where I don’t have to fight these guys?”

“Not without help. Social media has another four Clan D’Morte soldiers waiting outside the café.”

Leah finished her coffee and had called for the bill when Gèng said, “I’ve a message from John. He says to wait a few minutes. He is on the concourse and will be there in less than two minutes.” Leah took her time paying and then continued to sit as she waited for John’s signal.

Her suit connected her to John as he approached the café. He said, “How do you want to do this? I’ve just purchased some of the foam containment bombs that Red used and a dozen micro-explosive drones.”

“Can you manoeuvre the drones and have them covertly attach to each Anguidian?”

“I think so. I’ll have four wait near the exit, ready for the lizards inside to leave. What level of destruction should I set the explosives at?”

“Enough to kill.”

“Will do. I’ll send you the signal to trigger detonation, or do you want me to do it?”

“Send it to me. I’d like you to stay hidden, and I’m sure it’ll upset the challenge system if you trigger the bombs.”

Leah got to her feet and made her way into the centre of the concourse. Before she could challenge the enforcers, the largest of them said, “I challenge Atherleah to a death duel with modification.”

Leah turned to face him and said, “Only one of you, are you sure? It’ll be easier to make it all eight.”

She subvocalised to Gèng and said, “What does it mean, ‘with modification’?”

Before Gèng could reply, a station official stepped forward and said, “The basic fee for a one-on-one kill challenge is 100 Gold. What modification do you seek?”

“No electronic aids, no modern armour or weaponry. Anguidian weapons only.”

The official turned to Atherleah and said, “Will you agree to these modifications? The challenger will be charged an additional 358 Gold. 258 charged because of his weight and height advantage. 100 because of his racial advantage.”

“I will agree if you’ll give me a few minutes to get changed and buy or borrow a set of local knives and swords. Any further challenges from his friends must wait until I can get back in this armour and use my current weapons.”

The official turned to the Clan D’Morte enforcer and said, “Will you agree to these terms?”

He nodded his head, and the official turned to Atherleah and said, “Atherleah, you have five minutes to borrow or purchase suitable weapons and to remove your armour. In this time you will not be permitted to log out of Cosmos Online.”

Leah looked around at the crowd and said, “Anyone able to lend a poor girl some sharp implements of death?”

One of the smaller Anguidians stepped forward and said, “I will. My name is 映月. I am a devoted follower of yours.”

Leah took the offered knives and swords and then ducked into a nearby store to change. She emerged wearing a t-shirt and slacks with the knives strapped to her thighs and a sword in each hand.

The official said, “Atherleah, if you are ready we will begin. If you evade death you will be awarded 229 Gold as well as any items removed from the deceased. The challenge starts in thirty seconds.”

The tall lizard stepped forward and brought his face close to Leah and said, “Your fancy weapons and preset moves won’t help you this time, little girl.”

Leah struggled to stop the shock of his statement from showing on her face. He could see her consternation but misunderstood it and began to smirk with an overabundance of confidence. Leah stepped back and allowed a small look of defeat to show on her face. There was a short chime to begin the duel, and the Anguidian brought both swords around in an arc from right to left. Leah stepped to her left and used her right sword to deflect the lizard’s right sword closer to his body, upsetting his rhythm. Leah brought her left-hand sword across and severed the tendons and muscles on the outside of his right elbow. His arm folded in and he dropped his sword. Leah continued moving along his right side, turning a full circle and burying her right sword in the region of his kidneys and cutting his right hamstring with the left blade. As his leg collapsed, she withdrew her right sword opening up a large wound almost to his right shoulder. Stepping back, she allowed him to fall in front of her and buried her left sword in the region of his heart. The whole fight had taken less than ten seconds.

While everyone was staring she said, “After I get changed, I plan on challenging any remaining members of Clan D’Morte to a duel to the death with no conditions.”

Leah stepped into the store and changed quickly into her armour. As she returned to the concourse, she gathered the blades left behind by the enforcer and handed them and the borrowed weapons to 映月 and said, “I thank you for the use of your weapons. Please accept these additional blades as a token of my appreciation.”

None of the other enforcers had left, and so Leah said, “I challenge the seven remaining members of Clan D’Morte to a duel to the death with no conditions.”

The official stepped forward and said, “The basic fee for a one to seven kill challenge is 15 Gold.” The official turned to the enforcers and said, “Clan D’Morte, if you are ready we will begin. If you evade death you will be awarded 1 Gold each as well as any items removed from the deceased. The challenge starts in 30 seconds.”

As soon as the chime sounded Leah sent the trigger signal and the seven drones exploded, each of them destroying the head of an enforcer. Leah waited for the bodies to fall before stripping them of their money belts and weapons. She took an empty duffle bag from her backpack and loaded everything into it. Nothing was said as Leah did this and no one moved. She pursed her lips, and after lifting the bag to her shoulder, she walked to the nearest hotel, rented a room, and logged out.

THE STORK TOWER

Arriving back in the Tower, Leah asked Gèng, “Is my mum awake yet and do you think it will be helpful or not if I go and talk to her?”

“She is awake and the healers have allowed her to get out of bed. I’ve just reviewed Nathan Kodoman’s comments and find nothing that might indicate that your presence could trigger the explosive. If you wish, I can discuss the issue with Dr Roberts?”

“Please do, although I’m sure Dad has already received some good advice. While you do that I’m going to look into Survival.”

Survival was a niche universe which catered to people wanting to experience the challenge of surviving in a variety of challenging scenarios. At the simplest level, it was a one-player puzzle solving game which dropped players into a set scenario with the minimal tools necessary to survive and solve the puzzle. People could pay to join group scenarios, and it was often used by companies to help with team building and bonding. The developers had extended the concept to allow both individuals and groups to experience long-term scenarios. An individual could choose to be the only survivor of a plane accident who washes up on a deserted island, or the sole survivor in a town of zombies. A group might decide to be the crew of a spaceship which lands on Mars or some other planet and must survive. Each scenario provided the basic tools for survival, but the individual or group had to use them to survive. In the more extreme environments, players died numerous times as they learned the skills to navigate the particular scenario. It was rumoured that several nations used the world to train their elite soldiers.

After reading through the variety of options, Leah came to the conclusion that meeting her mother as another player was almost impossible. Players were sometimes situated in the same virtual reality, but they were usually separated by insurmountable barriers. For example, the desert island scenario was conducted on a specially constructed water world. Over the surface were dotted tens of thousands of different islands. Some were in the tropics, others in the arctic regions and everywhere in-between. It was possible to travel between the islands if you built a raft or boat, but the distances and wild oceans made the probability of such interactions approach zero.

Leah determined she needed to find out what type of scenario her mother was involved in before digging into all the available options. Leah doubted that Nathan would be able to change her mother’s situation even if he knew where she was. It wasn’t possible that he was in the same scenario as her mother because groups were required to spend at least 80% of their game-play together and there was no way Nathan or Meredith would have agreed to such a constraint.

Once she’d looked over the material, Leah finally had time to fill in her diary for the previous day. She was rereading some of the previous entries when Gèng interrupted, “Dr Roberts believes it might be best not to cause too much internal conflict for your mother in the short term. Let your father discuss what has happened. You should relate to her as a friend, rather than as a daughter. Dr Roberts suggests that you stay completely out of the picture for a while as your existence, one way or another, is the root cause of any possible internal stress. She suggests you talk with your father and get him and your brother, or even John, to communicate if necessary.”

Leah sat for a few minutes without responding, tears making their way slowly down her cheeks. Finally, she said, “See if John or dad are available to meet me soon. I need lunch, and after I’m dressed they can bring that to me, and we'll talk the matter through.”

“Your dad is free and will get some food together and come when Marie says you’re dressed.”

REAL WORLD

Leah logged out, only to see the cover rising and to feel the increase in pain. It was less than before, but she still ached everywhere, with particularly sharp pains in her shoulder and chest. Marie helped her to the shower and into a robe. When she was ready, Marie stepped out, and Michael entered carrying a plate of sandwiches and several pieces of fruit. He also had a variety of capsules and a vial.

Handing everything to Leah, he said, “Food and medicines as directed.”

“How is Mum?”

“She is strong, Leah. She’s upset about being chipped but glad she was rescued. She’s responded as I would expect but hasn’t mentioned you at all. John said not to do a scan of Lin until talking with you. What is going on?”

Leah had hoped John would have passed the information on but knew it was best coming from her. She spent ten minutes sharing what Nathan had done and her responses so far. When she’d finished, she said, “I’m almost sure she is safe from Nathan and Meredith at the moment. I need you to explain the situation to her without reference to me, except maybe as a friend of John. Mum needs to be back in the Pod by nine, and she needs to tell you what her experience is if she can. Once we know what scenario she is involved in, then there is some hope of finding a way to change the programming on the chip. Other possible solutions are rolling around in my head, but they need more work before I could even contemplate sharing them.”

“You’re sure he can’t get to her and hurt her?”

“Not completely. If she can describe her day, and if she is alone, then yes I am sure. If she is part of a group, then he can hurt her. I’m certain it won’t be him, but he may have given the job to a flunky. I don’t think he has because it would be too hard to coordinate times and he would have said something. What I think he has done is put her somewhere impossible to reach. I expect he’s revelling in our impotence, knowing we won’t do anything to jeopardise Mum just in case.”

“What do you have planned next?”

“I need to get back to Dunyanin, and I want to see if I can help rescue Thad. My only hesitation is I don't know what the police are doing.”

“They’ve been working their way around the various bosses all morning. Jimmy thinks they might not get here until early this evening or tomorrow. They are asking lots of questions about possible attacks in the city and are referring to both you and Jimmy by name. They’re applying a lot of pressure, but it seems so far that no one has said anything. They are also applying pressure on the streets. Increased patrols have stopped people getting across the river to work, and anyone needing to deal with the government has had to deal with extra bureaucracy.

“I just heard that the Thompson girl who finished school last year decided to get a PAI chip and go to the community college. Apparently, she was inspired by recent events. She was interviewed several times during the process and finally sent home and told to come back tomorrow. They suggested she would have an easier time if she had stories to tell of others who had recently had their PAI chip implanted. People are getting riled but as far as I can tell they are all entirely supportive of what you've been doing. It helps that no one really knows what happened.

“I still don’t understand what happened and John has made it clear that I already know too much. As your father I’m not happy being out of the loop, but I understand John’s perspective. None of the team who went with you has been allowed off the property yet. They don’t seem to mind at all, but they are keeping their mouths tightly shut. I know you told the lawyer lady something. I had lunch with her, and she has a serious case of hero worship. To be honest, I’m a bit scared of the truth if it’s affected her like that.”

Leah shrugged but didn’t say anything in response. Instead, she gave Michael a small smile and quietly finished eating. When she was done, she said, “Thanks, Dad. Can you send Marie back in? I think I’ll need her help to get back into the Pod.”

“I will, but that’s another thing. What exactly happened to you? John wasn’t very clear.”

“I won’t say how it happened, but I shattered my shoulder and collarbone and did a lot of damage to the tissue around them. I have bruising on my torso, front and back, and have some bone shards near my eye that are being dealt with. I can’t explain how, but it is all being looked after and should heal without any long-term complications. At the moment, the main problem is dealing with the pain and getting enough nutrients and energy to help with the reconstruction. At least when I’m in the Pod, the pain is easier to manage.”

“How come no one else was injured?”

“More questions I can’t answer, and you shouldn’t ask. Hopefully, by the time the police get here, I’ll be able to answer their questions without them even knowing I’ve been hurt.”

“OK. No more questions. I’ll send Marie back in.”

Michael stood and gave Leah a gentle kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. When Marie returned, she helped Leah to the shower and back into the Pod where Leah logged in to the Tower.

Diary - 13 December, 2073

I think I’ve subconsciously always believed that knowledge was dispassionate or impartial. Information has always had a quality of clinical cleanliness to it that made it seem positive, or at worst, amoral. Education is supposed to be liberating and empowering but knowing more hasn’t lessened my burdens, it’s increased them. Increased knowledge hasn’t set me free, it’s just tightened my shackles. To be fair, the truth could probably be more accurately stated as ‘my increased knowledge has set me free to truly understand my ignorance and powerlessness’. My world is bigger than it was before and it makes me feel smaller and more insignificant. At the same time, I have a greater burden of responsibility. I must do something with what I know. I need to connect the dots and make a difference.

I’m afraid, or maybe it would be better to say, I am terrified. I wonder if this is how Pandora felt when she first opened the jar and let everything out into the world. I wonder if she thought that things would be better shut up and hidden away? So much has happened and so much has been achieved but the world is even more complex than I imagined. What can I hold onto in the way Pandora held onto ‘hope’? What, or where, is the hope for me to take away from today? The information I stole from Meredith is more significant, more comprehensive, more substantial than I ever imagined. Maybe it is too big, maybe it should have been destroyed, but how will I know? I can’t put it back. I suppose I could destroy it, or erase it. I wonder what chain of events would that would set in motion.

I think of Eve. Through her disobedience she finally understood what good and evil were. It was through the very means of her learning that she left herself powerless to choose. The action which gave her knowledge defined her choice. Was there a better way to come to the knowledge? A way perhaps which would not have left her bereft of a choice? What if she had chosen to obey? Would she ever have learned what evil was? I wonder if it is even worth thinking of what might have been? I’m so afraid that my decisions have set me on a course which will always deprive me of a good solution. Mum has been chipped and she might always be separated from me because I chose to save her. How can I act properly if I don’t know what the repercussions will be?

The other thing that scares me, possibly even more than the everything else, is the thought of the damage I did. I can rationalise about the necessity of it all I like, but I can’t escape from the reality of inflicting broken bones, torn muscles, concussions, knife wounds, unconsciousness, and possibly even death. Twelve dangerous, highly skilled, and armed guards were taken out in a matter of seconds. No matter how helpful, how useful, how necessary, I wonder if such technology is really values free? Mahatma Gandhi said that one of the things which might destroy us is ‘Knowledge without Character’. Who is it who decides what the character which won’t destroy, is like? At the moment, that is me. This responsibility is heavy.

Do I need to carry it alone? Who can I trust?

4

December 14, 2073 - Part 4

DUNYANIN

Leah moved purposefully through the tower toward the gaming portals and stepped through into Dunyanin. She found herself perched on a branch near the top of a tall tree. She took a moment to describe the sense of movement she’d experienced in the portal to Gèng, as well as an impression of being in a tunnel looking out at a strange vista. Gèng said she would record every moment of Leah’s next portal transition.

Leah had been moving slowly through Dunyanin and knew she had to pick up the pace. She didn’t want to be seen flying over the forest, so she decided to teleport. Climbing as high as she could, Leah looked out over the top of the forest canopy. On the far north-western horizon, she could see the mountains her map indicated to be between her and the ancient city of Batislar. She checked her Teleport spell and was pleased to see she could now teleport forty leagues. She focused on the mountains and cast the spell, but nothing happened. They were still too far away.

Leah looked for something closer and saw a tree off to the northeast which towered over the rest of the canopy. She glanced behind her and noted another exceptionally tall and broad tree five or six leagues behind her. Turning through a full three hundred and sixty degrees she saw five or six of the giant trees scattered throughout the forest. She was sure they held some significance but focused her attention on the one ahead of her. It was so far away that she found it hard to visualise a safe place to appear, so she turned and studied the one behind which was closer, and then considered the trees around her. Finally, she felt confident and pictured a branch similar to the one she was standing on but with the darker leaves of one of the larger trees. With this in her mind, she again turned to the tree to the northeast and cast Teleport.

Leah appeared high above the canopy and standing on one of the smaller branches at the top of the giant tree. Carefully looking in all directions, Leah began to move slowly down the trunk. The closest branch that would safely hold her weight was several feet below where she was standing, and off to her right, so she grabbed a smaller slightly higher branch with her right hand and, placing her left hand in a fork near her feet, she reached down and lowered herself onto the lower limb. Just as she’d settled her weight on the lower branch, and before she had released her handholds, an arrow from lower down the tree clipped the left-hand knife concealed in her belt. It ricocheted off the knife, carving a furrow the length of her back before entering her body just below her left shoulder, the arrow finally coming to rest with the arrowhead extending a handbreadth beyond the top of her left shoulder.

Leah’s shoulder flared with pain and her legs buckled. It was only the automatic clenching of her right hand that stopped her fall. Even so, the momentum of her body caused by her buckling legs turned her body, and she rotated around her right arm. As she turned side on to the trunk, another arrow slid up her chest grazing her left cheek and temple. She continued to rotate, twisting her arm and weakening her only attachment to the tree. As her left side impacted the tree trunk, her right hand gave way. The pain in her shoulder flared again as she fell and slid down the side of the trunk. She’d only dropped a body length when her right foot hit a branch, and as it folded, she slowed enough to hook her arm over the same branch. Gritting her teeth, she looked down just as a third arrow split the bark near her face.

Leah couldn’t see anything but had the presence of mind to cast Chain Lightning with her free-swinging left hand in the general direction the arrows had come from. She heard a yell as the lightning hit something or someone and then her swinging legs finally found purchase on a lower limb. Her health was just below 75%, but the pain was more than she had felt before except during her change. Casting Chain Lightning again she noticed it arc between three points lower down and this time she noticed the outline of a figure holding a bow no more than three body lengths beneath her. The lightning had ruined their shot, but she could already see they were beginning to recover. The person was a Dark Elf from the Yarim Clan, with skin and hair blending seamlessly with the tree.

Leah cast again, this time noting not only the location of the other two Dark Elves but also checking the Elf’s health.

DARK ELF (YARIM) GUARDIAN (Level 318) 80899/101124 HP (15900 EP)

Leah followed the third cast of Chain Lightning by summoning a worker drone which she sent scampering down the tree toward the elf. The spider was low level, and the elf killed it with a single shot. Leah used the time to shift to a branch further around the trunk and out of sight of the elves. Leah misted her shoulder and then cast Heal as the arrow dropped free. For the next minute, she and the elves played hide and seek, with her casting the occasional Chain Lightning as they tried to get a clear shot at Leah. The last two lightning bolts had been shrugged off faster by the three elves, and Leah needed to find a different attack or flee. She used the vambraces and transformed herself into Ateş Maymunu, the Fire Tamarin, then swinging around the trunk she dropped down the tree faster than even the elves could. As she shot past the first elf she reached out and grabbing the elf’s bow pulled it from their hands and almost tearing them off the branch they were standing on. The second elf had gotten an arrow nocked as Leah approached but had no time to loose it before Leah spat at her, hitting the bow with the ape’s potent acid attack. Leah changed direction and swung around the tree using the Tamarin’s momentum, launching herself at the final elf guardian. This one reacted quickly and dropped his bow to meet Leah’s attack with an arrow in one hand and a knife in the other.

A natural Tamarin might have been challenged by the elf’s weapons, but Leah had the ape’s long arms and dexterity coupled with the mind of an accomplished knife and stick fighter. She evaded both weapons and barrelled into the elf, disarming him and knocking him off the branch. Leah continued down the tree until she was out of sight, then changing back into her half-elf form she misted from sight. In mist form, Leah moved back up the tree while keeping her distance from the three elves who were scurrying after the Tamarin. By the time she reached the top, the cooldown for teleporting had finished. This time when she focused on the ridge which ran from the highest mountain peak she could see, she disappeared as she cast Teleport.

Leah arrived and immediately sank up to her knees in snow, almost stumbling. She tried to move and sank even deeper into the snow. Looking around, she didn’t see any threats but did notice a rocky outcrop about twenty metres away which showed above the snowdrift. Leah cast a small burst of Dragonfire at the edge of the just-visible outcrop and was rewarded with a geyser of steam and approximately one square metre of cleared rock. A few more careful casts and she was able to extricate herself from the snow and make her way onto the rocky protrusion. The stone was still warm from the dragon fire so she sat down to wait for the teleport cooldown and search for her next destination.

Unfortunately, there was at least one more line of peaks between her and the northern section of the Dark Elven Forest of Night. From where she was, she could see two mountain peaks with a deep gorge between them with a ridge on the far side of the western summit. If her calculations and the ancient map were correct then from there, she should be high enough to see the town of Batislar or at least the trail between it and Yilinlar, where she hoped to find the son of Lord Geckiş, the God of Transitions, and İki Tarafda, the last Queen of Yılanlar. Once she reached her decision and seeing she still had time on the cooldown she asked, “Gèng, why did that arrow hurt so much?”

“I’ve been wondering when you would ask. With the damage to your shoulder and the bruising on the rest of your body, I have reduced the general stimulus you receive as you move through Dunyanin as much as I can while you recover. Unfortunately, I am not able to reduce the 50% pain threshold. At the moment, your shoulder area is hyperalgesic, and when the simulated pain from the arrow was applied to your nervous system, it elevated your pain beyond the set values. I apologise for not applying a filter but that would have been noted by the Dunyanin conditions overwatch program and may have raised questions regarding your injuries. I felt it prudent to minimise the possibility of data relating to you being injured ever becoming widely known, even obliquely.”

“There is no need to apologise. Now you’ve explained it, it makes sense, and you did the right thing. Before the change I think it would have left me incoherent, but now I was still able to keep going, so no harm done. Is there any news on the police investigation or on Mum?”

“Nothing yet. There has been some indication that the investigation might be upgraded from civil disturbance and breaking and entry to assault causing bodily harm. Police are still being silent, and several reporters are wondering if the investigation might become even more serious. I think we should leave this discussion until you return to the Tower. John’s views on secrecy are looking wiser all the time.”

“You’re probably right. Well, time is up on the cooldown, so I’m going to head over to that outcrop and look for the trail or one of the towns.”

Leah stood and, visualising carefully, disappeared only to appear moments later on the other side of the range. She quickly did a full sweep of the surrounds but couldn’t see anything which she thought would cause her harm. She was on the upper surface of a large westerly-facing overhanging rocky outcrop. The outside edge of the ledge was several metres from Leah and was slightly higher in elevation. From Leah’s position, the ground sloped down towards the mountain and was covered in snow. Where it joined the main range, at its southern edge, there appeared to be a snow covered path running down along the mountain. Leah could see along the trail for about fifty metres before it curved out of sight. Everywhere else was covered in untouched snow as far as the summit. Feeling secure, Leah turned to look out over the northern section of the Forest of Night.

She couldn’t see a trail but assumed it was covered by the forest canopy. The day was clear and being near the top of the range she could see the edge of the forest from where she was. Leah retrieved the map and, after checking landmarks, she focused on the areas which seemed most likely the locations of the cities she was interested in. To the west, she looked for Batislar and although she didn’t see any evidence of buildings or habitations of any sort she did note an area where the forest canopy looked different. She wasn’t sure if it was lighter, less dense or merely different in elevation but she did think it could be the city that was marked on her map and it was less than ten leagues from where she stood. Turning to the East, she wasn’t able to see far enough to make out Yilinlar or even see any evidence of it. In the end, she decided to teleport to someplace close to where she thought Batislar was, and then if nothing pointed her toward Yilinlar she could return to the mountain and steadily make her way eastward hoping to find some evidence.

She had another few minutes to wait before the teleport spell could be used again, so she did another check of her surrounds. This time she noticed that some of the snow running down the mountainside appeared hazy as if it had been disturbed. It was clear that the disturbance was heading in her direction. Leah could see the snow rise and then fall as if something was moving underneath the surface. She cast Dragonfire several metres ahead of the approaching disturbance and was rewarded with an explosion of steam and a screech of pain.

Through the sudden mist, Leah saw an extended snow-white snout shaped like that of an eel. Behind that slithered a body that disappeared into the snow and once more headed toward Leah. She sent Dragonfire several more times and was rewarded with cries of pain and glimpses of the beast moving in her direction.

When the creature was about eighty metres away, she directed a larger burst of Dragonfire, sending up a massive blast of steam and almost wholly revealing the creature.

SNOW EELINE (Level 386) 85548/148996HP (19300EP)

Leah was preparing for another cast when the fin on top of the Eeline separated to form spikes across a widening body. Muscular legs which had been drawn up to lie along the sinuous body shifted as shoulders which had dislocated to lie along the spine now folded out and snapped into place, stretching out the creature’s hide and bringing it into a crouching position on a bare patch of mountainside. The elongated snout opened wide to voice a scream of challenge, displaying a set of razor-sharp teeth designed for shredding flesh.

Leah estimated that in the crouched position, its shoulders were at a similar level to her own. Each of its legs was at least the size of her entire body. She watched the metamorphosis continue as its chest expanded and its tail separated in half before moving to point at Leah like scorpion stingers, one positioned over each shoulder and both ending in an arm-length spike. The body was mostly white, although where the pelt had expanded it exposed strips of obsidian-coloured skin. As she watched, its label flickered and changed.

SNOW FEELINE (Level 386) 148996HP (19300EP)

Before the creature had finished its transformation, Leah equipped her bow and shot two arrows, one toward the head and the other just behind the front legs. The first was snapped from the air by the Feeline’s jaws and the second thudded into the torso, but instead of sticking it ricocheted and disappeared into the snow beside the Feeline. Leah cast Dragonfire, but the creature moved as soon as the fire left Leah’s hands and although it was briefly obscured by the blast of steam, it easily seemed to evade the long range cast. Lightning flew from Leah’s right hand, and although it hit the creature, Leah couldn’t see that it had any effect.

This fight, Leah decided, was going to be fought at close quarters. For a moment she considered equipping the Amber Dragon but chose to leave that as a last resort. Instead, she transformed into Çevik Taklitçi, the Armoured Mimic Leopard. Immediately the Feeline stretched out its neck and roared another challenge before beginning to stride toward Leah, its claw-tipped feet spread wide with webbing like snowshoes keeping it on top of the snow.

The Feeline had almost eighty metres to travel. Leah hoped this would give her enough time to review her options. She realised that in her current form, despite being larger than a draft horse, she still massed less than a quarter of what the Snow Feeline did. Without considering precisely what she was doing, she cast Grow only to feel the spell begin to form and then fail. Like her attempt at shadow walking, she considered that perhaps spells couldn’t be cast while beast-walking, except she had felt it begin to form. She calmed herself, and then using the same technique she had perfected while learning to manipulate mana, she tried again. This time she pictured herself growing to the same size as the Feeline and fed all her Mana and Ki into the effort. Leah felt the spell start to form and then she felt a barrier. Instead of allowing the spell to fizzle she maintained the pressure and focused her will on growing. The barrier seemed to push back, but Leah had worked through this before so she maintained the pressure until suddenly the barrier failed. Both her Mana and Ki rushed into her body, and she began to grow. The spell absorbed both Mana and Ki at a phenomenal rate. Her reserves had dropped below half before she was the size of the Feeline and ended the spell.

The Feeline was now thirty metres away, and Leah crouched ready to meet its attack, even as she noted the spell continuing to consume her Mana and Ki rapidly. She needed to end this quickly. When the Feeline was fifteen metres away, Leah leapt forward and they crashed into each other, both rising on their rear limbs and raking their opponent with their front claws. Leah had to duck and weave to avoid the Feeline’s snapping jaws. Neither of the two was able to do much damage as both had armoured exteriors.

The Feeline slunk back a few steps and began to pace around Leah. It kept its front end facing her. Leah copied the movement, patiently waiting for the next rushing attack. This time, as the Feeline leapt forward, instead of meeting the Feeline head-to-head, she dove forward, raking its belly with her front claws before darting out from underneath it and beginning her own circling motion.

Its next attack was faster, and Leah had to rear up and meet the Feeline in the upright position. Their claws slashed quickly, looking to slash a shoulder or even the head. With a twist, the Feeline managed to close its jaws around the right side of Atherleah’s head and jaw. It began to bite down hard, and Leah felt a canine pierce through her under her jaw. In desperation, she began to rake her claws down the side of the Feeline’s head and was rewarded after several attempts with a shriek as her right claws tore apart the creature’s left eye. The Feeline jerked its head away in pain, tearing loose skin and flesh from each side of Leah’s head. As her head came free Leah whipped forward and clamped her jaws onto the Feeline’s throat at the same time as pushing upwards and knocking the beast off balance.

As the Feeline stumbled backwards, it still continued to rake its claws along Leah’s shoulders and front legs. She held on grimly, keeping her head tucked tight in toward the creature’s neck, and continued to clench and grind her jaws, trying to cut through the thick skin of the Feeline. Her perseverance was rewarded and beginning with her canines she felt her teeth slowly pierce the flesh, and her hold on the creature improved. The Feeline’s movement became more frenzied as Leah clamped down on its throat. Maintaining her grip, Leah wrenched her head to the side and tore out the throat of the Feeline. It dropped in death, pinning Leah to the ground. Leah released her spells and shrunk to her half-elf form. Unable to move from underneath the dead Feeline, she harvested it.

You have harvested:

1 Eeline/Feeline Pelt*

2 Vials of Eeline Blood (4.4, 2)**

2 Vials of Feeline Blood (4.4, 2)***

1 Set of Feeline claws

Assorted shards of Darkness Diamonds****

* Note: A Master Tanner will be able to maintain the transformative capabilities of the Eeline/Feeline pelt.

**As a vampire, when you drink this you will have the ability to move unerringly toward your prey regardless of physical senses for one hour.

***As a vampire, when you drink this, you will be preternaturally able to move at twice your usual speed for one hour.

****Eeline/Feelines live in caves and tunnels in the high mountains and sharpen their claws and teeth by scraping them on the tunnel walls. Often shards of precious jewels are swallowed in the process.

Now free of its bulk Leah slowly stood, her face and arms dripping with blood. Suddenly the sound of slow clapping started up behind her. She turned around carefully and saw a woman standing there.

K’CALAMA - DAUGHTER OF GECKIŞ (Level 1245) 1550025 HP (62250 EP)

K’calama was tall, and though her face showed evidence of different personalities like her father’s, K’calama’s transitioned between them in noticeable movements and made her look psychotic rather than mystical.

K’calama said, “Daddy says we mustn’t kill you. We were only able to bring the Eeline in your direction because killing it would give you some benefit. You don’t look like much, and we thought it had you toward the end. To be honest, we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“We?”

“We are the daughter of Geckiş. When we transcend then all our distinctive personalities will blend into one. Until then we are forced to coexist.”

“So is there a kind, caring K’calama in there somewhere?”

“Of course, but even she wants you gone. If Somur takes over, then we’ll be distinct for eternity, and we’ll never have any peace. Look, your task is unfair and onerous. My brother doesn’t want the job, and I do. Why don’t you give up?”

“To be honest, I’m tempted to give up, but that would be for my benefit, not yours. I got the impression that this task must be completed before Geckiş moves on. The longer it is postponed, the more pain you, and he, will go through. You both need closure and that can only happen when the choice is put before your brother and you two come to an agreement.”

“Agreement! Ha! When we’re both before Daddy, then we’ll have to fight for the job. That’s the way of transitions.”

“They don’t have to be difficult. Have you talked to him and asked what he wants?”

“Talked to him? Our brother spends all his time in the form of our mother. The only person he really talks to is himself. His different personalities are even more divergent than mine. But we’re sure he’ll want the job. He doesn’t respond to father’s requests for a meeting because he feels unloved and yet he drives himself to excel because he wants recognition. From what we observe, your ascension to the Imperial throne, more than anything else, will drive him to accept. He is a king and now he wants to be at least an Emperor. The fact that our father has accepted you as his emissary will drive Somur wild. Now, to a task. We have a small side quest for you.”

“I’m really busy and I’ll need to decline.”

“You can’t. Although we hope you die we convinced our father that this would help you and so he gave in. Inside the Eeline’s lair is a special instance modified just for you. If you complete that dungeon, then you will receive a map of Yilinlar and its surrounds, and you’ll get a medallion which provides entry to the city.”

“Is there a time constraint on finishing the quest?”

“You can attempt it whenever you want to as long as it is before you go to Yilinlar. Be warned that another Eeline will occupy the lair within twenty-four hours. That is enough information for now. Don’t forget, we are watching you.”

At that K’calama disappeared, leaving Leah alone on the ledge and free to receive messages.

Level 5 Named Personal Achievement

Skill - Beast Casting - First 10 (3, Diamond)

Atherleah (Level 306) You have learned the skill of casting while in the form of a beast. This is your third Level 5 NPA: ‘First 10 (Diamond)’.

You are one of the first ten players to learn this skill, further development can only be achieved by careful practice or by finding a Mentor.

Reward 1: 5000 x 306 = 5821650 (+280.5%) Experience Points (4250000/4250000)(4350000/4350000)(455913/4450000)

Reward 2: 10 Platinum x 3 = 30 Platinum

Reward 3: +3% to Experience Points

Reward 4: 500 Fame Points (254515 FP)

You have achieved the title: Beast Mage

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

She slowly made her way off the ridge and along the path toward the Eeline’s lair. By the time she arrived, she was still not fully healed. She stared at the opening for a few minutes, then turned and made her way back to the scene of her fight. She carefully studied the area where she thought Batislar was and isolated a small outcrop of rock jutting just above the canopy. She darkened her skin, assuming the form of a Dark Elf from the Siyah Clan. Concentrating, she teleported to the rock.

DUNYANIN

Leah appeared at the top of a small finger of rock which jutted above the forest canopy. She carefully looked around, and although she couldn’t see anyone, she was wary because the forest was so quiet. Cautiously she descended into the forest keeping her senses on alert as she used to when working for Jimmy. Reaching the forest floor she made her way in the direction she thought Batislar to be.

Leah moved stealthily through the trees being careful of every footstep and movement. She’d travelled almost two hundred metres when she heard voices. Soon she saw three Dark Elves moving along a trail toward what she assumed was Batislar. They were all dark skinned like her and walked casually as if the path was safe. She waited until they were out of sight and found a place from which she could watch the trail in both directions. Over the next half-hour, she saw several other groups of travellers. Most were from the Siyah Clan, although one group was mixed and had a Dark Elf from Clan Solgun. Leah also saw several solitary travellers, and though most were Siyah she saw another Solgun and a Dark Elf from one of the smaller Clans, he had dark olive green skin with hair the colour of bright juniper berries.

Leah noted that each of the elves from Clan Siyah had hair shorter than hers. She shortened her hair until it was just longer than the elves she’d seen. Leah waited until the path was clear and then stepped out onto the trail and headed toward Batislar. Twenty-five minutes later the path she was on merged onto a larger, more travelled, trail. It was another half-hour before she reached the Dark Elf city of Batislar.

The city existed wholly under the canopy. Most of the undergrowth had been exchanged for small gardens of edible crops and patches of medicinal herbs. Paths were left between the gardens for foot traffic and led to entrances to underground commercial and residential areas. In the canopy, Leah could see suspended walkways and more living areas.

The further she moved inwards toward the city centre the closer her mannerisms matched those of the residents. Most elves she saw were clearly NPCs although she did see an occasional elf who looked like a player because of their dress or mannerisms. In the heart of the city Leah found the central markets. She needed to restock with potions and purchase some better quality armour and weapons. She’d hoped to have the armour and weapons made especially but decided she no longer had time.

After some investigation, Leah ended up at the armoury considered the best in Batislar. The shop was high in the canopy, with a workshop and forge underground. Leah wandered around the showroom for a few minutes but couldn’t find any armour created for someone with her high level. An elf from Clan Siyah approached her, his hair several inches longer than Leah’s.

He said, “A traveller and a strange one at that. Most of you exaggerate your status with hair beyond what has been earned, yet you are over Level 300, and your hair length is that of a lowly, yet educated, commoner. My name is F’Dali, how may I assist you?”

“Thank you for your name, F’Dali. I am called Atherleah. I am looking for a new set of armour and some new weapons. Do you have anything which will cater to someone at my level?”

“There is little call for such high-level armour or weapons that are not specifically made for the individual. If you give me a moment, I will see if the Master Designer is free for a consult.”

F’Dali disappeared at the rear of the store while Leah waited. It was several minutes before he returned.

“Atherleah, if you will follow me I will take you to meet our Master Designer. I believe they can help with more specific enquiries.”

Leah followed F’Dali out a rear entrance and over a small rope bridge to an adjoining tree. F’Dali opened the door and indicated that Leah should enter. The door closed behind her. One side of the room was covered in shelves with materials of all types, ranging from a variety of pelts to vials of poison and different varieties of ore. At the far end was a bin filled with scrolls and in between was a large drawing desk at which was seated a female elf from Clan Solgun. The elfess stood and with a small bow said, “Welcome Atherleah, my name is T’sar Rimci. How might I help your Imperial Majesty?”

Atherleah hesitated for a moment and then said, “I am in need of some new armour and some weapons. What I have is almost worn out and was really only suitable when I was less than Level 100. Other than that, all I have is a set of armour that cannot be worn until I am Level 400. I would like something made specifically to order, but I have very little time.”

“We have some of the best smiths and enchanters on this side of Vatan working for us, and we should be able to have something for you by the morning. What did you have in mind?”

“Before we discuss it, I was wondering if my heritage will be a problem?”

“Out in public, yes! In private you will find most merchants have few scruples when it comes to coin. You were wise to take the form of a Dark Elf, although I suggest you purchase an enchantment to hide your name. The armour is best made to fit your natural form and can be enchanted to change its shape to conform to any changes you make, such as this Dark Elf.”

“That would be appreciated. I require a full set of armour that is light and flexible or is enchanted to be. I need quick access to both knives and swords as well as the option of a bow and quiver. I have a sword and would like another, as well as a variety of knives. I have used both an axe and a hammer in the past, and my bow needs replacing. I don’t know if this is the best place, but I would also like a new staff as mine is broken, and I will need something until I have the opportunity to repair it.”

“We can do all of this. You should note that to those who are knowledgeable, it will be clear that this armour has been made by Dark Elves. Is this acceptable?”

“It is.”

“For armour of Level 300 and above there is a suggested range of materials available, and each has its particular strength or weakness. Did you have anything in mind?”

Leah explained that she while she had no preferences, she did have a range of materials she could make available. T’sar was so ecstatic at the choices Leah offered her that she ended up bringing not only the Head Smith into the discussion but also the Chief Enchanter, a master tanner and the city’s premier alchemist. Altogether Leah was occupied for over three hours working on designing her armour with T’sar. Leah ended up commissioning two full sets of armour and weaponry. She arranged for the enchanter to make a staff using the Darkness Diamond, the shards she found on the Eeline and an assortment of other gems and metals. In payment, Leah provided most of the components needed and enough additional material for another two sets of armour. She paid in Adamantine and for an additional three metres of Büyük’s hide the suits would be available the following morning.

After leaving T’sar, Leah followed directions to the alchemist’s shop and resupplied with both healing and restorative potions. The alchemist explained to Leah that she should be careful to keep a check on the level of Shadow and Dark Mana in her body because the potions were prepared for Dark Elves and might interact in slightly different ways. In addition, Leah bought a range of ingredients and then after checking in to a tavern, she spent several hours brewing a variety of potions herself.

Finally, feeling the most prepared she had for many days, Leah logged out.

5

December 14, 2073 - Part 5

THE STORK TOWER

Arriving back in the Tower, Leah took a seat in her favourite sofa and said, “So Gèng, has anything happened that I need to think about?”

“Your neural landscape continues to change, but the feedback loop and the filtering algorithm we put in place seems to be keeping on top of those changes. The final outcome we are projecting is a substantial increase in communication due to faster speeds and greater detail. Dr Roberts has modelled the increased neural density and suggests there is a probable increased risk of concussion. I am currently looking for ways to mitigate the additional risk.

“John and your father had a long talk with Lin about her situation. They didn’t mention you and Lin is on board to help identify which part of Survival she is in. The police continue to question people concerning last night, and our best estimate is that they will be here in just over an hour. Finally, Sarafaraz and Susan have found a possible avenue for me to obtain a bank account. They will make time when you are available to talk about it.

“Both Tesfaye and Reed have reported rumours of a super-hacker being hunted by all levels of virtual security. Word is getting around that the Vault was cracked. A reward of ten million virtual credits has been offered for information which leads to the identification of this hacker. In the absence of any information, the community has named the hacker Vernyx in honour of the Goddesses Laverna and Nyx.

“And finally, you have several messages. First, Dr Ellis sent a query concerning your absence last night. Next, Peter would like some time to discuss the idea of minting coins. Also, Dunyanin administrators would like an opportunity to discuss the Lanetli and your options regarding their use. Leon would like a meeting to discuss possible sites for the research facility, and finally, both Wisp and Amy have asked to know what is happening.”

“Please let Dr Ellis know that I will be there this evening and I will explain my absence as much as possible. Schedule meetings with Susan, Sarafaraz, Peter, Leon and Dunyanin first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll contact Amy and Wisp myself before I log out for something to eat. I want to spend some time with Dad and Conner if I can.”

Leah talked with Wisp and let her know, in general terms, what had happened. She promised to give more details when she had more time. Amy was unavailable so Leah left a message. Leah then logged out of the Pod.

REAL WORLD

Marie was waiting when the Pod opened, and she helped Leah to the shower before calling Mrs Lee who came and strapped Leah’s shoulder. Marie helped Leah dress before she said, “John would like you to head downstairs slowly. He’ll have some food ready and the solicitor, Olivia, will be there. They have some suggestions to make.”

Leah nodded and with more dexterity than she had earlier in the day, she made her way to the lower floor. John was waiting with some fruit, a high energy supplement, and a large shake which he said contained a selection of nutrients recommended by Gèng. Olivia was there, but she waited patiently while John explained how Lin was and the results of the discussion he and Michael had had with her.

When he’d finished reporting, he said, “Lin is in the Pod at the moment, and as much as we can we are monitoring what is happening. As soon as we have any concrete information I’ll send it to Gèng. I’ve given Olivia access to whatever intel we have on the police, their visits to the various community leaders and bosses. She’s asked to have time to brief you before they come here. At the moment they are in the Switch talking with Jimmy.”

Leah turned to Olivia, “Thank you for being available today. What do I need to know?”

Olivia smiled, “First, I want to congratulate you on your information network. I’ve never had this much detailed intelligence prior to a meeting before. Four of the reports had visual records of the interview, and I’ve been able to get a preliminary read on the police and what they want. That is the good news. Unfortunately, the bad news is that what they want is you. Right from the start they have been systematically working every angle to find something on you which would let them bring you in for questioning.

“They have to be pretty discouraged by now because as far as I can tell the people questioned have portrayed you as a saint. Two bosses purposefully left themselves open to take any heat on offer, but the police ignored them. I can’t think they’ll get anything more from the Switch either. Their questions are primarily aimed at your involvement in directing the movement of people from negative-tax areas to gather information on more affluent members of society. They are also interested in how you have managed to obtain so much, so quickly, and they are questioning its legality.

“They have some information that suggests you were involved in several criminal activities in your early years and that you have a propensity for violence. Their latest report was from last year when it was alleged you broke a boy’s limbs. The accusation was withdrawn the following day, but it is still on file. They are also asking about a John Welford. Apparently, he took the unusual move of dealing with you directly when you had your implant. The police have tried to contact him, but he has disappeared along with all his personal records. His Pod was wiped clean, and they think you were involved somehow.”

Olivia paused before saying, “You did much better that time. I got nothing concrete until the end. I think you know what happened to John Welford and you are both angry and pleased.”

“Have the police given any indication as to why they are focused on me?”

“Nothing definitive, but I believe it is a direction from higher-ups.”

“What do I need to do or know and do you need anything else to prepare for the police?”

“I’d like your permission to answer questions on your behalf. I might give you the nod if it is something you would be better served answering. If so, then answer politely and with complete honesty but without giving any additional details. ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ answers are best, if possible. If not then give the simplest, most straightforward answer possible. If they ask a follow-up question then I will answer it, or if applicable direct it back to you.”

“Where will we meet them?”

“John has cleared out a small room near the lobby, and he’s set it up for the interview. With the lead time we’ve had, he has had time to insert countermeasures against anything they might have on them or which they might leave behind. If they follow the same protocol as elsewhere, then there will be three detectives and a uniformed driver. You and I will be in the room with John standing near the door as a guard. Under no circumstances should you allow them to dictate who is or is not in the room.”

“What if they ask John a question?”

“They probably won’t, but if they do, then I will answer for him.”

“Great! I hope this doesn’t escalate.”

“Unless they get something concrete they’ll have a hard time coming up with a reason to bring you in for questioning. That said, what of their allegations of an illegal and violent past?”

“It’s true. I worked with the gang as a child. It paid for protection in school. I did break some limbs last year, the guy was a pervert preying on younger girls.”

“And John Welford?”

“I don’t know the particulars but I do know why he can’t be found, and I know who arranged for him to disappear. I’ll tell you if you wish, but I’m sure if he turns up that he will have nothing to say that can be used against me.”

“Is he alive?”

“I think so, although I bet he wishes he wasn’t.”

“Did he manipulate anything for your benefit?”

“No, not to my knowledge.”

They talked for a few more minutes when John interrupted and said, “The police have left Jimmy’s and are headed in this direction.”

Olivia said, “Leah, you take a seat in the interview room. John and I will meet the police at the gate. When they enter the room, you should stand but do not shake their hands or say anything except ‘Hello’. When they take their seats then so should you. Leave the running of the meeting to me. I will not give them access to wireless so they should be out of contact with headquarters. You and I can still communicate via our AIs if necessary.”

While John and Olivia headed for the main gate, Leah made her way to the room John had prepared and attempted to meditate and become calm. Gèng interrupted her meditation, “A second vehicle has joined the detectives. It is unmarked, but it appears it is expected. John is making arrangements for more chairs to be brought into the room so be prepared.”

Several minutes later Gèng sent an update, “Besides the three detectives from the Organised Crimes Division there are two investigators from the Cyber-Crimes Division. Olivia advises there are no changes to her advice.”

There was a knock at the door, and two of John’s helpers brought in the additional chairs and arranged them as if they had expected five visitors. Leah calmed herself and waited. When the door opened a second time, Olivia entered followed by four men, two women and John. Leah stood and greeted each of the officers as they were introduced and then sat down. John took a position behind Olivia and Leah, while the uniformed policeman stood near the door. The three Organised Crime detectives were introduced as Detectives Morrison, Peterson and Carpenter. The other two were introduced as Special Investigators Evans and Leong.

The oldest of the detectives, Detective Morrison, said. “Thank you, Ms Carroll, for giving us this opportunity to gather information. Be assured that no charges are being laid. We do, however, have some questions regarding various issues that have come to our attention over the last week or so. We are hoping you can help us with our inquiries.”

When he’d finished speaking, he looked at Leah inquisitively as if waiting for a reply. Instead, she maintained a calm exterior and made no moves, neither did Olivia. After a somewhat awkward silence, he continued, “Do you have anything you wish to say at this time?”

Olivia responded, “Nothing at this stage, Detective, except to note that my client has willingly made herself available as requested.”

Detective Morrison looked to Leah to see if she had anything to add but she only continued to consider him carefully. The next hour followed the same script, with the detectives and investigators taking turns at asking questions and Olivia answering most of them on behalf of Leah.

“Ms Carroll, what is your relationship with Mr Jimmy Loo?”

“My client has lived on the Citiswitch Estate all her life and is well known in the community. She works closely with many community leaders to look for ways to help her community.”

“Ms Carroll, more than fifty individuals with known ties to organised crime were seen in Tenneriffe, New Farm, and Newstead throughout the last week. These same individuals are suspected of a series of home invasions. Sources say they were there at your direction. What was the purpose in sending them?”

“My client supports the right of individuals to travel freely in all public areas.”

“Ms Carroll, where is your mother?”

“My client respects the privacy of the individual and in particular that of her family. I suggest your questions remain pertinent to the issues you have outlined.”

“Ms Carroll, did you or did you not break a boy’s arm last year?”

“Detective, is this in reference to a crime?”

“We have a report that Ms Carroll broke a young man’s arm and a leg on 23rd of August last year.”

“Are you pursuing legal action against my client concerning this report?”

“Not at this time.”

“Then please move on, and I request you keep your questions relevant to the issue at hand.”

Some of the questions asked by the Special Investigators related to issues not discussed with Olivia and she indicated Leah should answer them. Leah had learned a lot from watching Olivia work.

“Ms Carroll, what is your relationship with the AI known as Akia?”

“Special Investigator Leong, Safety Oversight AI 4 provided assistance when my security in the Virtual Multiverse was threatened. I have great regard for all AI and agents who work in Virtual Security.”

“Ms Carroll, what do you know of the hacker calling themselves ‘Vernyx’?”

“Special Agent Evans, I know no hackers who call themselves ‘Vernyx’.”

“Ms Carroll, have you attempted to enter Virtual Security’s archival storage facility known as the ‘Vault’?

“Special Agent Evans, I am new to the Virtual Universe, but even I know that Virtual Security has the best security available.”

“Please answer the question, Ms Carroll.”

“I did ask several times to be put in contact with Safety Oversight AI 4 but was told she had been archived. Would this count as attempting to enter the facility?”

“No.”

“Thank you Special Agent, I am pleased that my questions did not overstep the boundary.”

Finally, Olivia said, “Detectives, Special Investigators, my client has been candid in answering your questions. Both she and I have other responsibilities we must attend to. You have my contact information, and I ask that you direct any further questions you have for my client to me. I will respond as soon as practicable to any such queries.” When she had finished speaking she stood, forcing the detectives and investigators to rise also.

Olivia made her way to the door and opened it, saying, “Please follow me and I will escort you back to your vehicle.”

John went with Olivia and Leah was left alone. Several minutes later Olivia and John returned and sat down. Olivia said, “That went well I think, but I do need to know why the questions about Akia and hacking.”

Leah replied, “Are you sure you need to know? It will open up another huge can of worms.”

“Just the bare facts. I don’t need details, but I need some context if I’m to look after your interests.”

“OK, Safety Oversight AI 4, who called herself Akia was instrumental in helping me rescue people who had been enslaved. Pressure was brought to bear by someone, and she was removed from her post and archived. Rumour has it that a hacker, who has been labelled ‘Vernyx’, broke into the Vault and released the AI known as Akia. Supposedly this occurred yesterday.”

“I see, I suppose this was the reason for the virtual slow down yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, you can be sure they have no direct evidence linking you to the incursion or they would already have served a warrant. Today was simply a fishing expedition. I’m not as confident that we can deal with Virtual Security as with the police. Virtual Security only needs a sniff of evidence to have their way with a judge. I may not be the best person to help you in a battle with Virtual Security.”

“I seriously already have too many lawyers involved in my affairs, but who or what would you suggest?”

“If it is ok with you I’ll talk to Stephen. Together we might have an idea of what can be done. Do you have other lawyers besides him?”

“Susan Drisedale helps with financial issues and taxation. She also assists with setting up my companies. I’ll agree that you can talk with both Susan and Stephen concerning where to get help, but I’d like to keep any details of what has occurred, or what might have occurred, out of that discussion. I trust them both but don’t want to put them in a difficult position.”

“Agreed. Well then, if there is nothing else I will head back to the office. If you require my services, please feel free to contact me immediately.”

Leah nodded, and after saying goodbye, she made her way back upstairs after checking where Michael and Conner were. Michael was in his Pod, and Conner was helping outside in the garden. Not wanting to disturb either of them she headed back to her room. After another snack and a nutrient shake, Marie helped her remove the bandages and clothes before helping her into the Pod.

THE STORK TOWER

As Leah sat down in her favourite sofa, Gèng appeared and sat on a sofa opposite. After several minutes of silence, Leah said, “I love the Tower but I’ve been too busy to appreciate it lately. I was really hoping things would slow down so I could enjoy how beautiful you’ve made it. Are there many new changes I haven’t seen yet?”

“Yes, I’ve added a level with a laboratory, and I’m looking at ways of getting the equipment you will need. I assume you will want to match equipment with what you can acquire in the real world, so at the moment I am gathering data. There are several new rooms where I plan to store whatever you collect from among the Dark Elves. I want to discuss adding a level to the Tower to keep a record of what happens in real life. For example, I have a picture John sent me of you when you broke the door into the house last night. I believe those memories are important.”

“That sounds good, although I don’t think I’ll let too many people see that room.”

“Another option I’ve considered is a room built along the lines of my space, somewhere you could show others what it’s like in the AI world.”

“I’m not convinced about that, although I would like some record of the journey. I know you acted as a filter but were you able to record anything?”

“I recorded the entire journey but as you say I’m not sure if that is a good thing to keep a copy of or not. For example, I have a record of every ID code that you saw. If they ever search this world and somehow discovered that then you’d be exiled from the virtual universe and I’d be erased.”

“No room then, but keep the information for now. I wonder why the investigators didn’t mention the World Bank at all. Are there any rumours at all about trouble at the World Bank?”

“No, all the rumours are related to the Vault. Why? What are you thinking?”

“What if they don’t know there was someone in the World Bank vaults? What if they have no concrete evidence because they haven’t connected me leaving the World Bank to what happened? What if there is no connection between the Vault and those cages in the World Bank?”

“But there was a ladder between the two, and they were of similar design.”

“But what if Virtual Security isn’t aware of the ladder leading from the Vault? Or maybe that should be ‘the ladder leading to the Vault’. I passed through an intermittent area which had no cages at all, it only had the ladder, nothing else was visible. The similarities could be because the same person designed and coded the cages in both places. I think that whoever it was created a backdoor into both the Vault and the Bank and the intermediate area is most likely their access conduit.”

“Why would you recognise it as an exit and security be unaware of it?”

“I’m not sure, but I’d guess it has something to do with whatever filter you devised so I’d recognise access points. I’m suggesting that something you added to the filter is different from how the security has been set up. We view the spaces differently. If I’m right, then it is probably a deliberate exception created by the person who built the vault. Once I was on the ladder, I didn’t have any of the vermin to deal with, and there was none in the bank vault at all.”

“I will review the file and see if I can determine anything that might be different about the exit route.”

“Can you also see if there is a common denominator between the two storage facilities? A company, a contractor, a coder or some other service provider?”

“I’ll see what I can uncover.”

They talked for a few more minutes and then Leah said, “I’m going to go to Pneumatica. The Tempest should be at Aeolipile by now, and I need to fix my eye and see if I can find anything out about Thad.”

Leah headed for the SPIDER and then into Pneumatica. As she passed through the portal, it felt like she was sliding past thousands of windows so quickly that she couldn’t recognise or remember a single image.

PNEUMATICA

Leah appeared in her cabin on the Tempest and was pleased to discover that although she had no vision on her left side, there was no residual pain. She made a quick comment to Gèng about the portal and then left her quarters and made her way onto the main deck. Each airman Leah passed stood at attention and brought their right hand up to touch either their breast or head. She smiled at each of them, especially when she noticed the ‘Bleeding Eye’ patch that most had somehow acquired and fixed to their shirt sleeves or breast pockets. Coming onto the poop deck, she was surprised to discover they were still underway and had yet to reach Aeolipile.

Ian and Mr Wilks were in conversation on one side of the deck but stopped talking as soon as they saw her and made their way to her side.

Ian said, “Well met Captain. I trust you have been as successful elsewhere as you have been here.”

“Indeed I have Major Daniels. Thank you and a good day to you and to you also, Mr Wilks. I had anticipated that we would be in Aeolipile by now, was I mistaken?”

“No Captain, we normally would have been, but with the damage the Draken and we took, we’ve been slower than expected. Another delay was stopping to disembark those who no longer wished to be in your service. Altogether we lost over a hundred people, most would have remained, but they are wanted by the authorities. The good news is Aeolipile has been sighted, and we should be on the ground within the hour. Several messages have gone back and forth with the Privateers, and two adjacent berths have been assigned to us already. They are in the central section, which is a great honour.”

“Capital! Mr Wilks. That is excellent news. Now, please advise me on what I will be required to do to be afforded Privateer status officially and how to claim both the Tempest and the Draken.”

“As I understand it, Captain, evidence concerning your conquest of both ships has already been tendered. For the Tempest, this was given by Maelstrom’s Fury and evidence concerning the Draken by those ships that helped defeat the enemy fleet seven days ago. You are required to present yourself to the Registrar of Privateers in order to receive a Letter of Marque and Reprisal which will complete the process. The Registrar’s offices are adjacent to the airport.”

“So shall it be Mr Wilks. Major Daniels, I would request that you accompany me to the Registrar before you take your leave. Should you wish to remain in my service, I would be pleased to have you, but I understand you may have prior obligations to Captain Barnsdale and to Maelstrom’s Fury. Mr Wilks, please have both ships properly secured and assuming you wish to remain in my service, please arrange for repairs to both the Tempest and the Draken.”

Ian was the first to reply. “I am free of all obligations, Captain, and I do desire to remain in your service in whatever capacity you might find most valuable.”

Mr Wilks was quick to offer Leah similar assurances of his desire to remain a member of her crew. When he had finished speaking Leah said, “Gentlemen, I am pleased to accept your service. In fact, I am overjoyed as I appreciate it is by your knowledge and skills that we achieved our recent successes. Once we are settled at berth, we must consider how best to use your skills.”

As they approached Aeolipile, Leah was careful to listen and observe the whole process. She felt uncomfortable being so dependent on Mr Wilks in running the ship. As soon as the airships were all tied down, Leah and Ian headed down the companionway toward the lower decks and ground level. Exiting the airship, Leah was surprised to find a small crowd waiting at the edge of the Tempest’s berth. As she approached the group, she recognised Captain Barnsdale, Commander Abbotsford, and Master Fallon.

Captain Barnsdale stepped forward as she approached and said, “Well met Charlotte, or should I say, Captain Charlotte. I would, of course, make good my offer to have you aboard the Maelstrom yet I perceive you have a better offer. I wished to meet you to thank you for saving my ship, my crew, my life, and my honour. I observe that you are wounded and trust you are recovering.”

“Thank you, Captain Barnsdale, for your kind words. I was pleased to be of some assistance and have already been richly rewarded. I am somewhat embarrassed, however, as it seems I have stolen Major Daniels into my employ. After I make application to the Registrar for a Letter of Marque and Reprisal, I intend to pursue a suitable replacement for my lost eye.”

Captain Barnsdale chuckled softly, “Do not be grieved concerning Major Daniels, for I am delighted that he might protect you as in the past he has me. Now, both Commander Abbotsford and Master Fallon wished to renew their acquaintance after which, with your permission, I hope to escort you to the Registrar’s Office to help smooth the way. These other good fellows are an assortment of Captains who watched your last battle with the pirates. They have asked permission to join me in smoothing the way, and afterwards, they wish to gift you your portion of the prizes. Even though you retreated mid-battle, they have made a good reckoning of the damage you did and in all honour wish to finalise the accounts.”

Leah greeted her friends and then was introduced to the other captains before, together, they made their way to the Registrar’s office. The office was on the entire lower floor of a large brick and steel building at the edge of the aerodrome. Perhaps one-third of the room was empty except for an arrangement of leather chairs available for those who had to wait for any length of time. The other two-thirds was behind a large counter which ran the width of the room and behind which were a variety of bookshelves, filing cabinets, desks and small partitioned offices. Behind the centre of the counter was a large leather chair occupied by a heavily moustached, wigged, overweight man with a medallion of office displayed on a chain around his neck.

Leah stepped forward and said, “Good day to you sir. I am known as Captain Charlotte, and I seek to register as a Privateer and take possession of a Letter of Marque and Reprisal.”

The man reached up one hand and twirled the left side of his moustache for a moment before saying, “Welcome Captain Charlotte. Her Majesty is always in need of those who brave the skies in her name. To receive such a warrant in Her Majesty’s name you are required to be in full possession of a suitable airship and to be recommended by a current Letter holder who is in good standing with this office. Then there is also the matter of a small fee.”

Captain Barnsdale stepped forward and said, “Sir, I am Captain Barnsdale, and I heartily give my recommendation of Captain Charlotte as worthy of the Letter. Should you have need of further recommendations, then these good men with me have declared themselves willing to provide such.”

Leah gave a small bow to Captain Barnsdale and then said, “I have two airships at present. One is the Tempest and the other the Draken, both were taken in battle.”

The registrar gave a small start at the mention of the Tempest and then once more reached up to play with his moustache. After a few moments of silence, he said, “The Tempest, you say. I find myself in somewhat of a difficult situation Captain. I have conflicting truths before me, each of which has force to both guide and direct my actions. On the one hand, there is clear and compelling evidence from Captain Barnsdale and his crew as to the piratical nature of the aforementioned aircraft, and yet I have been enjoined by Her Majesty to forego any decision regarding the Tempest until she has had opportunity to consider the matter. This advice is obligatory on all submissions regarding the Tempest.”

Captain Barnsdale took a deep breath, and many of the captains with him began to fidget. Leah said, “That is truly a conundrum sir. Perhaps I might suggest a temporary solution. Am I right in assuming that there is no controversy regarding the ownership of the Draken?”

“You are correct.”

“Excellent! If it pleases you, might I be given a Letter of Marque and Reprisal with my uncontested ownership of the Draken providing the necessary compliance with your regulations? Captain Barnsdale’s recommendation I trust is sufficient, and I will, of course, meet the costs of such a letter. I will remain in possession of the Tempest until such time as Her Majesty has had an opportunity to consider the situation to her satisfaction.”

The Registrar looked up with a small smile and said. “That is an excellent suggestion, Captain Charlotte. Now if you would make the appropriate payment of fifty pounds I shall have your Letter of Marque and Reprisal drawn up immediately.”

Before Leah could move, Captain Barnsdale stepped forward with the money and said, “Captain Charlotte, please allow me the opportunity to make this small contribution to your next adventure.”

Leah nodded politely and the Registrar accepted the money before saying, “Do you have a personal emblem or device you wish to have associated with your name?”

Ian stepped forward with a prepared piece of cloth which had the bleeding eye embroidered on it. Within ten minutes Leah and her small crowd of followers exited the building, the newly signed and sealed letter in her hands. Captain Barnsdale directed her to a nearby tavern where the other captains had prepared a small private room to discuss the payment of prizes. Over the next half-hour, the Captains reviewed the ships destroyed and captured. After defeating the pirate fleet, they had searched the battlefield and retrieved a significant proportion of the Maxwellian Bronze expended during the firefight. After taking what they considered their fair allotment of prize money, Leah was left with an additional two slightly damaged aircraft, several hundredweight of Maxwellian Bronze, and almost twenty thousand pounds.

Having finished their business Leah and Ian made an exit and began walking back toward the Tempest. Leah said, “I would have you and Mr Wilks visit the new ships and determine if they are suitable additions to our fleet, and if so, have them repaired. If not, then please arrange for their sale. I must attend to some business in Aeolipile and may be absent for several days. If you have need of me, I shall be staying at the Herrington.”

“Let me send several men to accompany you. I fear Lord Emerson may have people watching the airport with intent to harm you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment Ian, but be assured I will be on the lookout for danger. Nonetheless, it might be prudent to have several men follow me to dissuade attack, at least until I reach central Aeolipile.”

“As you will, Captain. If you would wait a mere five minutes, I will organise a few volunteers.”

Just under an hour later, Leah was once again standing outside the Transit Centre in the centre of Aeolipile. She retraced the path she’d taken when she’d first entered the world until she reached the place where she’d first observed Billy Bartle. Leah watched the ebb and flow of traffic until she identified a girl who was picking pockets in a familiar style. She casually sidled alongside the young thief and said, “Hello, I am known as Charlotte, and I am an acquaintance of Mr Billy Bartle. Please pass the word that I am seeking his assistance in a somewhat urgent matter and can be reached at the Herrington. Also, may I suggest you pay more attention to the rotation of your wrist when removing a wallet rather than relying overly much on the elevation of your elbow.”

Without waiting for a reply, Leah made her way to the Herrington where she found Albert on duty behind the reception desk. As she approached, he stepped forward and said, “Miss Charlotte, it is a pleasure to see you again although I am somewhat disheartened that you have sustained an injury. How might the Herrington assist you today?”

“Be not dismayed Mr Lincoln, as I am sure this scratch will soon be put to right. I find myself once more in need of lodging and would not willingly stay anywhere except this fine establishment. If possible, I would like a suite for at least a week.”

“Was the previous suite of sufficient size or might you require a somewhat more expansive lodging at this time, Miss Charlotte?”

“Have you something with a small area in which to entertain visitors? For I expect the young gentleman who was so concerned for my welfare to visit.”

“Our larger suites all have such facilities, Miss Charlotte. Might I suggest our Lady Emily Suite, Miss Charlotte? In addition to a superior quality sitting room, it comes with a butler and a lady’s maid who will take care of any refreshments as well as ensuring no harm might be brought upon your character.”

“That sounds splendid Mr Lincoln.”

Leah paid in advance for the suite, and then Albert escorted Leah to the twenty-ninth floor and a well-appointed set of apartments. After being introduced to the butler and the maid, she asked for a cup of tea and then tried to get her thoughts in order while she waited for Billy. Her tea was still steeping when her butler entered the room and said, “Excuse me, Miss Charlotte, there is a Mr Bartle here to see you.”

“Please show him in Howard and, if you would, ask Louise to bring some additional refreshments.”

“As you say, Miss.”

Leah stood as Billy entered the room and said, “Mr Bartle, thank you for being willing to see me. I must also thank you for the parasol, it was a most suitable gift, and indeed I had occasion to use it almost immediately.”

Billy stepped forward and, taking Leah’s hand, bowed over it for a moment before saying, “It was a pleasure to hear from you, Captain Charlotte. When I heard of the appearance of a stunning new Privateer captain named Charlotte I knew it was you. Were you able to find the justice you sought?”

Leah indicated for Billy to take a seat and said, “In part, Mr Bartle. My original quest has been completed, but in doing so I have made several promises I need to keep. They are somewhat larger in nature than I had first intended and yet I find myself inclined to see them through.”

“Might you share these larger endeavours, for I assume you need some assistance in order to satisfy your honour?”

“I have promised Lord Emerson to take from him everything he has and everything he holds dear, both in this world and in whatever worlds to which he may flee. I have also promised myself to destroy slavery wherever it is found.”

Billy sat stunned for a moment and Louise, Leah’s maid, took the silence as an opportunity to enter with a small tray of refreshments and another pot of tea. Leah said, “Would you like a cup of tea, Mr Bartle, and maybe some fresh sandwiches?”

Billy nodded somewhat slowly and said, “Thank you. No milk and perhaps some honey and lemon.”

As soon as his tea was served and Louise left the room, he said, “My first inclination is to suggest you have bitten off more than you can chew, Captain Charlotte, but then I never believed the Tempest would be taken either. I applaud both your promises as my experience is that Lord Emerson is bad for business. His actions restrict an independent and somewhat honest thief from making a proper living. In addition, I believe that slavery is a blight on any civilisation. I am hesitant, however, to be too visible in offering my assistance as I prefer to remain among the living.”

“Be assured Mr Bartle, I prefer you to remain well and truly hidden as it is then that I will find you most valuable. I am not seeking to abuse your friendship but would like to make use of your experience, your networks, and perhaps to offer suitable remuneration for such services.”

“Well then Captain, what do you require?”

“I need clothes, weapons and someone to help repair my eye. I have four ships to refit and repair, and I need workmen who will not report back to Lord Emerson. I need an invitation to the next large social event where I might encounter Lord Emerson, his family, and Her Majesty. I need a comprehensive list of Lord Emerson’s holdings, his possessions, his employees, and his acquaintances. I also want blueprints of all his properties. I understand you may not be able to produce all this from within your own networks, but I imagine you have contacts who can find this information without revealing either my presence or yours.”

Billy sat and thought for several minutes, then said, “I believe I can provide you with those services. The cost for this will be sizeable. Do you have sufficient funds?”

“Yes, and if I run out, then I will just take more from Lord Emerson. I think it appropriate that he fund his own demise.”

“Indeed! Evening will soon be upon us Captain Charlotte, and I have some things to arrange. Will you be free tomorrow to meet with those who help to provide clothing, weapons and who might introduce you to someone who has the skills to fix your eye?”

“Unless something unexpected happens, I shall be ready tomorrow at nine.”

“Please understand Captain, despite the great pleasure I take in your company I am not the most suitable person to guide you in the morning. Instead, I will send two of my companions. They will be here at nine. Their names are Mistress Ellen Bartle, a cousin, and Mr Henry Ayer.”

“Thank you, Mr Bartle, I hope I have not stepped beyond the bounds of our friendship in asking this of you.”

“Not at all Captain. I expect that I shall profit greatly from this arrangement, and hopefully not at your expense.”

Billy took his leave shortly afterwards, and Leah logged out for a small break.

6

December 14, 2073 - Part 6

THE STORK TOWER

Leah took a small break to use the bathroom and have a snack. She was encouraged by the fact that she didn’t require anyone’s help in getting to and from the bathroom. She asked Gèng to let John know she no longer needed someone in, or near, her room all the time. Once she was back in the Tower, she made her way to the Dunyanin portal. She said, “Gèng, can you record everything from this portal transition? I would like to review it when I get back to the Tower.”

Gèng agreed but said, “I’m not sure what will be recorded. Neither you nor your consciousness, move. The portal is nothing more than a visual effect, provided by Dunyanin and applied by me, which gives time for me to connect with the Dunyanin server and initiate the data transfers.”

“I do understand Gèng, but something is different, and I can’t explain it.”

“I’ve set the Pod scanners to their highest sensitivity, and I hope this will make some sense of what is going on.”

DUNYANIN

Leah nodded and returned to the tavern in Batislar.

After making sure she looked like a Dark Elf, Leah made her way to the showroom and then followed F’Dali through the rear entrance and down a series of ladders into a workshop far beneath ground level. T’sar Rimci was waiting with the smith and the enchanter from the previous day’s discussion. They were standing near two sets of armour displayed on stands.

Both were predominantly dark grey and constructed principally from a synthesis of Büyük’s hide and the skin of an Adamantine Mamba. The hide had been tanned and then split to form a supple leather two millimetres thick. A single thickness of the leather formed the inner layer of armour and was designed to cover everything except hands, feet and head.

On the outside of this, the smith and the enchanter bonded many thin-shaped sections of Adamantine. These shapes ranged from tiny scale-shaped pieces in places needing flexibility, to larger pieces in those places less likely to bend or rotate. A second layer of Büyük leather was then bonded on the suit, covering the Adamantine. More Adamantine was added to increase the protection in areas particularly vulnerable such as along the spine, the chest area, the kidneys and where significant veins and arteries ran near the surface. A third layer of leather was then added in places which had the additional Adamantine.

Each suit was then covered with a tanned and thinned outer layer of skin from the Adamantine Mamba. Although the scales broke up the suits uniform colouring, the suit was also embossed with a series of runes enchanted to evade detection. The suit was then oiled with some of the Concealing Oil Leah had gained from the Pharaoh Ants, which had been mixed with both Worker Ant Oil, to increase hardness, and the Fire Retardant Oil from the Fire Ants. The enchanter applied the oils using runes of protection and strengthening after which he rubbed the oil over the whole surface.

Each suit had matching boots, gloves, a variety of bandoleers, belts and harnesses, helmets and a cloak. All these were also made of leather and Adamantine but were trimmed in either blood red or ice blue. Depending on which combination of bandoleer, belt, and harness Leah wore, she could carry her weapon of choice in a variety of positions. Leah had the options of a simple skull cap, a half helmet or full protection which covered her entire head and included transparent coverings for the eyes. Both suits radiated a slight feeling of menace, the blue-edged one more so than the one edged in red.

Leah greeted the craftsmen, and after examining the suits, she praised their handiwork. T’sar said, “We have just finished the work and that only because we called in other craftsmen from the city. Both suits are Legendary in quality. After you left I modified some of the design parameters to enhance both the suits and the weaponry. This means there are some additional costs, but I believe you will appreciate the modifications. Before we discuss price I suggest you try on the suits and check the weapons in case changes need to be made.”

Leah spent almost an hour checking the suits, the weapons and the staff. She had arranged for a variety of knives, both throwing and fighting, a sword, a bow and numerous arrows of different types. There was a fighting staff with attachments for both a Morningstar and for blades at either end. She also ordered a new haladie and some extendable fighting sticks. The staff made by the enchanter was forged from one of the ribs of an Adamantine Mamba and was covered in runes formed by embedding various gems Leah had provided. Her Darkness Diamond had been set at one end and held in place by the same ice-blue metal which lined one of her suits. The diamond was surrounded by a ring of precious and semi-precious gems, each attuned to a different type of mana.

In the end, there were very few adjustments necessary, and they involved minor changes. When Leah was done she thanked the workmen again and followed T’sar to her office. When they were seated, T’sar said, “As agreed the suit with blue trim has been enhanced to deal with a high-level magic attack. Your suggestion of using powdered Darkness Diamonds was tried and found to be very effective. The shards you provided were not sufficient, and we had to purchase offcuts and shards from elsewhere. The powdered diamond was mixed with several mana-based oils and bonded to the outer layer of the suit before being enchanted. It will both absorb and deflect magical attacks. Any mana absorbed is channelled to magnify your own spells while wearing the armour. The trimming is Mithryl which usually resists Shadow Mana, but we forged it in Dark Fire and doused it in a mixture of poisons. The process gives it that blue sheen and makes it highly conductive of Shadow Magic.

“The red-trimmed suit is specially enhanced to deal with physical attacks. If you examine it closely, you will see that it is slightly darker in shade than the Mithryl lined suit. It is covered in a mixture of oils that were produced when rendering the Demigod’s hide. These were mixed with the Troll’s blood you provided. The trimming is platinum, to which the smith added a combination of Feeline and Rock Kraken’s blood during the forging process. The end result is an increased ability to resist damage, and the trimming will increase both your speed and your threat perception. Unfortunately, the testing required, combined with the additional workmen, has increased the cost of these suits above our quotation.”

The next fifteen minutes were occupied in some serious haggling over the price. In the end both parties were satisfied, and after finalising her bill Leah took possession of the suits, the staff, and the weapons. T’sar was somewhat disappointed when Leah left the premises before equipping her armour, but Leah wanted to remain inconspicuous as long as she could. It took her twenty minutes to leave the central section of the city and find a secluded place from where she could teleport to the Feeline’s cave. After picturing herself once more on the mountain ledge, she cast Teleport.

Arriving on the ledge where she had fought the Feeline, Leah looked around checking for threats and then transformed into her half-elf form before equipping the red-trimmed suit complete with boots, gloves, a belt with sheaths for four knives at her a back, a harness which carried her two swords on her back, and the full helmet. Feeling more prepared than she had in a long time, she made her toward the Feeline’s lair.

On entering the lair, she noticed several piles of bones interspersed with pieces of armour and several weapons. She harvested the piles but received nothing beyond some basic gear and a few coins. Slowly she moved deeper into what turned out to be a system of tunnels. Leah equipped her mining pick and used her Mining-Sight to examine the walls as she slowly moved deeper into the mountain. Within the first fifty or so metres she found several areas highlighted in green which contained several small diamonds and a small piece of medium grade gold. Another ten metres brought her to a fork in the tunnel. The tunnel to her left looked more travelled, so she turned left and soon mapped out what remained of the Eeline’s lair. She found several more piles of bones and found a small Darkness Diamond while mining. Finally, after checking everything, she returned to the fork in the tunnel and carefully made her way down the right-hand branch.

The tunnel was straight and sloped down, heading deeper into the mountain. Leah had only travelled about thirty metres when she discovered the tunnel completely blocked by a portal. Leah hadn’t found much of anything in the lair itself, so she assumed this was the ‘special’ instance that had been prepared for her. Without any hesitation, she stepped forward and through the entrance.

Leah found herself standing in the centre of a large heptagonal room. It had a high dome ceiling, and each of the stone walls had a centrally placed wide and full-sized mirror.

Level 4 Personalised Instance: First 100 (1, Sapphire)

Atherleah (Level 308), you have entered a personalised instance: Self-Reflection

You are the twenty-fifth player to be assigned this Instance.

Appropriately matched adversaries will enter the room. To successfully complete this instance you must defeat each adversary in turn.

Reward 1: 500 x 308 = 590590 (+283.5%) Experience Points (1046503/4450000)

Reward 2: + 1% to all future Experience

Reward 3: 1 x 10 Gold

Fame: 50 Fame Points (254565)

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

After reading the information Leah looked around the room, both watching and waiting. A bell rang and Leah turned toward the sound. One of the mirrors now had a symbol above it. It was the number one and had a pair of crossed fighting sticks placed centrally under it. Looking in the mirror she could see herself, but her reflection wasn’t wearing the armour but was dressed as Leah had been when she first entered Dunyanin. In each hand, her image was holding a fighting stick. Then, as Leah watched, her reflection stepped out of the mirror and into the room.

Leah took a step backwards and realised that she was also no longer wearing her armour but instead was dressed in the same clothes as her reflection and she also had a fighting stick in each hand. The image was slowly walking toward her. Leah continued to slowly step backwards. When her reflection was three paces from her, it stopped and assumed the position that Leah usually took when waiting for an opponent. Above the reflection was a description.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—DUAL FIGHTING STICKS (Level 308) 137160/137160HP (18518EP)

Leah quickly checked her health, it was precisely equal with her clone as none of her jewellery or armour had been worked into the equation. She slowly raised her sticks and assumed the same position, waiting for an attack she knew would come. Seconds passed, and then a minute. Leah realised that her tendency, when stick fighting, was to wait for the attack and then respond appropriately. It seemed that her clone was prepared to do the same.

As she had the thought, she lunged forward twirling her wrists to bring both sticks down toward her clone’s head. Her clone moved at almost the same time and brought one stick up to meet the attack and the other around from the side aiming to slam it into Leah’s body. Leah rotated her right wrist as she moved her arm away from her body. She deflected the attack, and then twisting her body, she lunged forward with her left hand, hoping to hit her opponent’s shoulder or bicep. Her reflection, though, was waiting for the lunge and moving forward and down she stepped inside Leah’s lunge bringing her stick up toward Leah’s left armpit. Leah also stepped into the attack and trapped the reflection’s arm between her left arm and body. Then, bringing her right arm across her body, she punched her fist toward the clone’s face. The clone bent its knees which both freed its arm and caused Leah’s fist to sail over its head. The reflection turned the motion into a roll and came to its feet several paces from Leah who had continued through her turn and was ready for another attack. Only four seconds had elapsed, and already Leah was wondering if she would have the stamina to finish the fight.

Her reflection attacked again, this time bringing the sticks from both directions and at different heights which forced Leah on the defensive. She blocked both attacks and then lunged forward bringing her sticks together and spearing them at her opponent’s body. The clone swivelled, bending its torso out of the way and bringing one stick down on Leah’s attack, the other stick it brought around straight at Leah’s head. Leah followed her sticks toward the ground and turning them, she angled them in at the reflection’s shins. Her image was fast, it managed to bring one stick down enough to slow Leah’s attack but not enough to stop it completely. Leah rolled forward as her doppelgänger brought the other stick down toward her back. This time it was Leah who wasn’t able to entirely avoid the attack, and she took a moderate blow just below her left kidney. The two combatants rolled apart. Seven seconds had elapsed.

Leah was used to one minute rounds during competition bouts, but there was no one to ring a bell or adjudicate a break. After three minutes, both Leahs were struggling from lack of stamina more than having taken damage. Leah had tried to use her Ki but discovered she was prevented from using Ki to speed up her attacks. In the end, it was desperation that gave Leah the win. She had just brought her arms down to force a block when she saw an opening. It wasn’t an opening she’d ever used before when fighting with sticks but rather it was a stroke she had practised with the sword. She brought her stick down and across her body, twisting her wrist she dropped her shoulder and lunged forward to strike hit her double forcefully just under the ribcage. The reflection was almost bent in half by the blow, and Leah’s other stick came around and slammed into her neck. Leah stepped back having thought she’d won the bout, only to be forced to defend herself when the reflection stumbled upright and attacked. The clone, however, was now hurt and slower than before. It still took Leah another minute before she stood over herself watching as the reflection’s health dropped to zero and disappeared.

Leah stumbled to the centre of the room to sit and then she meditated until she’d reached full health. Emotionally she was struggling with the idea of killing herself. It wasn’t so bad until the clone had died because until then it had just seemed like an extended tournament. But watching herself fade had been harder to watch than she’d expected.

As soon as her stamina and health and been replenished the bell rang a second time. A symbol appeared above the next mirror in the room. It also had a symbol. It was the number two with a pair of knives, one on either side of the numeral. Again there was an image of herself without armour, but this time her image was holding a fighting knife in each hand. The reflection stepped out of the mirror and into the room.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—KNIVES (Level 308) 137160/137160HP (18518EP)

As soon as the doppelgänger’s foot touched the floor, the scene changed. Leah could still see each of the seven walls and the dome, but the floor now resembled that of a rocky desert. It was uneven and covered in loose gravel with an occasional boulder or desert bush. In places, a sharp spiked grass grew through the loose gravel. There was no pausing this time when Image-Leah approached. It immediately attacked moving its knives forward and in front of her, her right hand higher than her left.

Leah stepped back defensively, wishing she could follow Johan’s oft-quoted advice, “Never get in a knife fight with someone who knows what they are doing. Kill them from a distance or sneak up and kill them when they aren’t looking.” She’d used a knife in Dunyanin but she’d always been aware it was a game. She wasn’t sure how she’d deal with slicing into her own body, even if it was computer generated.

With this playing through her mind she was purely on the defensive and forgot Johan’s other mantra, “In a knife fight every defence must be offensive, and every offence must be defensive.” Within minutes her health was at seventy per cent and dropping from the numerous small cuts on her arms and torso. This happened even when she met every attack and knew every move her opponent was going to make because without any offensive movement of her own, every move she made opened her to the chance of small glancing cuts.

Finally, knowing she was going to lose if she did nothing Leah began to fight as she’d been taught and started to take every opportunity that was presented. This not only reduced the damage she received but she also began to inflict some of her own. Unfortunately, she was more than thirty per cent in arrears from the start and even with them both now suffering similar damage, it was too much to catch up. Soon the reflection was at eighty per cent, but Leah was less than fifty and losing ground as her reduced health, and the ongoing damage due to bleeding began to slow her down, stealing power from both her defence and her attacks.

For almost thirty seconds, she began to despair and so suffered a more severe stab wound to her upper thigh when she moved back just a little slower than usual. The wound’s overall impact was exacerbated by a similar, though shallower, wound from a previous attack. Leah knew she’d been careless in allowing the same move to defeat her twice. Then she remembered all the times Johan had beaten her, the weaknesses he had capitalised on and then afterwards going over each one step-by-step to help her overcome them.

She reminded herself of all the work she had done in trying to minimise those weaknesses, and she remembered the two that she still hadn’t overcome. Two different patterns that she used that always seemed to leave her open to Johan’s attack. No one else ever saw them as opportunities, but he always did. Leah only ever tried not to use them when fighting John because she appreciated the advantage they gave her over everyone else.

She thought through the movements and knew how to set her reflection up to use that very movement because she knew what she would do. If she could only just exploit the weakness the way Johan did. She was at thirty per cent before she saw the opportunity open up and by then she was definitely feeling sluggish. If she got this right, then she could defeat the clone in one move. If not, then she opened herself up to an almost inevitable, and instant, defeat. With her current lack of speed, she knew she had to begin the attack even before detecting whether or not the clone was going to make the particular attack.

Leah almost closed her eyes as she moved her left-hand knife from her preferred forward grip to a reverse grip. Then, as her reflection thrust forward its left arm to gut Leah, Leah stepped beyond the thrust and took advantage of her twin’s overextension. She swung her left arm back across her body, hooking the clone in the left shoulder with her knife and pulled it off balance, both exposing and bringing its vulnerable back within range of Leah’s right hand. With two quick thrusts of her blade, she severed the spine and punctured the heart.

Leah almost collapsed on top of her dead self. Instead, she stumbled a few steps away and slowly lowered herself to the ground to recover. She probably had access to a restorative potion but was confident the instance would wait until she was healed before initiating the next battle. She steeled herself to facing herself at least another five times.

Before Leah was emotionally ready, her health was full, and the bell rang a third time. This time the symbol was a number three with samurai shaped swords above and below, each sword was pointing in a different direction. This image still had no armour and was holding a long-handled sword with both hands while another could be seen jutting above its right shoulder, carried in a harness behind her. The clone stepped out of the mirror and into the room.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—SWORDS (Level 308) 137160/137160HP (18518EP)

This time, when the clone stepped out of the mirror the arena transformed into a modified fighting circle. Leah found herself in the centre of a six-metre diameter circle with dark obsidian-like flooring. She moved her foot slightly and confirmed it a good grip. Radiating from the circle were seven meter wide spokes made of the same material and forming pathways to the centre of each side of the room. Smaller paths joined the spokes at random places along their lengths. In between the paths there was nothing. Leah was certain that if she stepped off the obsidian floor, she would fall to her death.

Leah quickly took this in while the clone steadily began walking toward the centre circle. Leah reached over each of her shoulders and felt the handles of two swords. Instead of just taking one like her clone had she brought them both forward, one in either hand. Initially, they were weighted for two-handed use, but as she brought them forward, they morphed into two single-handed swords of the exact length and weight she was used to. Quietly, she whispered, “Damn, I love these swords.”

Looking up, she saw her twin had just reached the central circle. As the Image-Leah stepped onto the arena, it mirrored Leah and reaching behind it took the other sword to match Leah. As both its swords changed, it didn’t say a word but gave what Leah imagined was an enigmatic smile. Leah wondered for a moment if this was what she looked like. There was no fear, just a hint of enthusiasm and anticipation as if this was going to be fun.

Leah wondered what this duel would teach her. She’d analysed the first fight and realised she’d become aware of the value of perseverance and persistence. The knife duel made her more aware of her weaknesses, not primarily so she’d work to overcome them but for her to acknowledge them and not allow herself to be controlled by them. She was almost looking forward to fighting this opponent because she knew there were things she’d practised but never really used.

The reflection moved forward until it was three metres away and then spoke in Leah’s voice, “Are you ready? I attacked last time without checking. I thought maybe that was why you started so poorly?”

Leah was shocked for a moment and struggled to come up with an answer for herself. It was in the moment of shock that the twin attacked and Leah barely survived the sweeping attack. One sword came sweeping toward her right shoulder while the other was thrust toward her torso. Only her sharp reflexes enabled her to step back from the thrust and deflect the slashing blade. She immediately attacked and the next forty seconds were slash and parry. This time Leah had no hesitations in looking for opportunities to turn defence into offence and vice versa.

As if they’d planned it, they both stepped back at the same time and took a breather while watching for any sign of weakness. Leah had started near the centre of the arena, but her initial move had given up any advantage, and her twin was now standing in the safer central position. Leah said, “So you are the same ‘me’ I fought the other times?”

“I’m you. Just as you learn about yourself, so do I.”

“What did you learn last time?”

“That you like learning and winning but not fighting. At times you’re just too soft to be a real warrior.”

The clone had apparently had enough, and as it finished speaking, it attacked again. This time Leah was ready, and after another minute neither of them had done much damage. Leah had some small nicks along her right arm and leg, as did the reflection. Once more, as is if by some agreement they stepped back. The twin had made a little more progress, and Leah had moved closer to the edge.

Two minutes later and both half-elves were breathing hard and were hurting from the small razor-like cuts that would usually have been prevented by even light armour. Leah had allowed herself to be beaten back toward the edge of the circle and her back foot was now less than half a metre from the edge. As they took another small breather, her other self said, “I imagine the difference between us is that I am not afraid of either killing you or of dying. I will win this time because you didn’t learn enough the last two rounds.”

“I’m not really afraid of either of those two things. It isn’t fear but reluctance. I have other priorities which are greater than winning, or even living if I’m honest.”

“This is a binary exercise, Atherleah. Either you or I have to be killed.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean that either of those two things must be my priority. Isn’t it also a priority to learn more, to be me? Isn’t that who you are, aren’t you me?”

“Yes, but I’m you without the hesitation, I’m you without the baggage.”

“And that’s why I will win. Because it is the baggage that makes me, me. Without it, I am less, not more. I’ll beat you because I am not just learning how to win or how to fail.” Leah lowered her sword slightly and continued, “I’m learning to have a deeper knowledge of myself, my priorities and even of this scenario. You are the one hampered by the lack of baggage.”

There was no sense of anger, despair, thoughtfulness or otherwise on the face of the clone, it showed no shock or hesitation, but in that instant when Leah was just finishing her sentence, her algorithms suggested Leah would be at her most inattentive and the reflection lunged to drive Leah back. But Leah was ready, and as she finished speaking, she dropped under the expected lunge and drove both swords up through her clone’s chest.

Looking down at the fading body Leah said, “Last time I learned to know and respect my own weakness, but I realised it is also important to know your enemies’ weaknesses.”

This time, as she had not been hurt very much, it was only a few minutes before the bell tolled. The symbol was a number four with a bow above and a quiver of arrows below. She could see that her reflection in the mirror was holding a bow in its hands and had a full quiver on its back. The clone stepped out of the mirror and into the room.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—BOW (Level 308) 137160/137160HP (18518EP)

The room morphed once more. This time it became a dark forest with large trees. A sparse covering of undergrowth sprouted between the trees and Leah watched as the room expanded to be at least four hundred metres in diameter. The terrain was not flat, and there were small hollows, gullies, old animal trails, and dry stream beds throughout. This was not merely a battle, it was a hunt.

Leah darted quickly behind a tree and reached down for some dirt and smeared it over her clothes and face. She unslung the quiver and counted her arrows although she was reasonably confident in a situation like this the first person to get off a shot would win. After re-slinging the quiver, Leah pondered if it was best to ambush or to hunt. She was almost certain that the AI running her clone would make it stalk Leah. Leah pondered if knowing how Leah thought would change the clone’s actions, and if so, how? How many moves ahead should she think? How smart was the game?

In the end, she decided that there were too many unknowns and she would carefully and slowly hunt in a pattern of ever-widening arcs around her starting point and look for evidence of her reflection as well as for possible ambush points. Her real-world experience as a burglar and a lookout for Jimmy was far greater than she had used in the game and she felt confident. For her half-elf eyes the forest, although dark, was still bright enough to see clearly through the trees for twenty plus metres unless it was blocked by the scarce foliage on the forest floor or some element of the terrain.

Leah’s movements were slow and measured. Leah found it unsettling that there was no noise in the forest, there was no rustling of the trees in the wind and no sounds of insects, birds and smaller creatures. Every leaf she brushed made a sound that seemed to echo through the forest. In the end, she removed her boots so she could feel the forest floor better and so avoid anything which might make a noise.

Forty minutes later and she was on her second arc through the forest when she heard a faint rustle of leaves somewhere behind her. Her first thought was to drop to the ground, but on reflection, she knew there was no one close. Leah closed her eyes and listened, she heard a second rustle and possibly a footfall. The noise was still behind her but in a different location. If she’d been seen already, she’d probably be dead. She waited, and after another minute she felt, more than heard, a final sound moving slowly away from her. Leah turned around gradually and peered in the direction of the noise. She knew sound could be recognised further away in this silence than would any movement yet she was still careful. Her mind plotted the direction, and the map she’d constructed in her head worked out a range of possible paths. Then, moving faster than before but with the same regard for silence, she hustled along a route which led her toward a small rise from which she hoped to see the animal trail she expected her clone had taken. It was the second most likely route she would have taken, and from the rise, she should also just be able to see the first most likely route.

It took Leah ten minutes to get to the rise and then she carefully lifted her head above the top and looked out over the trail she would have taken if she’d been stalking herself. Leah waited patiently, breathing slowly and carefully. The first indication she’d chosen correctly was the sound of feet as they inadvertently crushed a dried leaf or tuft of grass. Next, she heard the occasional whisper as legs or arms moved the edge of a branch or bush out of the way. Her twin came into view. It was moving carefully, but without the skill honed by years of navigating safely through the Switch. Leah waited until the reflection reached the closest point to her it would get if it stayed on the trail, and then as her clone’s head looked away, Leah rose silently and put two arrows in the air before the reflection even registered a threat. One arrow pierced its back and into its heart moments before the second hit the spot a finger’s width closer to the spine.

Before Leah reached the body, it had already begun to fade. Its disappearance was followed almost instantly by the trees and ground cover also disappearing. Before Leah had a chance to reflect on her victory the bell tolled. Above the number five was a pair of red eyes, below the number were two canines between a row of sharpened teeth. Leah struggled to see the reflection because the mirror was shrouded in both Shadow and Darkness. The clone must have stepped out of the mirror and into the room because the room began to morph. The floor became dark and smooth, mist began to seep from it and from the ceiling. A message appeared briefly letting Leah know of her adversary.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—HALF-ELF VAMPIRE MATRIARCH? (Level 309) 137160/137160HP 19450/24640 BSP (18518EP)

Leah said to Gèng, “Why does it say I’m a Matriarch and why the question mark?”

“I’ve reviewed all the messages, and the only one that could apply would be in association with the social entities that you now rule because you rang the bell. I have queried Dunyanin administrators, and they say that you hold the potential position of ‘Matriarch’ in several Vampire clans. The question marks will disappear when, or if, the claim is formally upheld by a clan. If more than two clans formally accept you as ‘Matriarch’, you will be known as ‘High Matriarch’.”

“Thank you, I think. I’m a bit young to be called a Matriarch.”

“You seem to have reconciled yourself to the term ‘Empress’.”

“Sarcasm! I wonder, does the fact that you’ve learned how to be sarcastic show an increase in sentience, or a decrease? Should I be worried?”

“You should be concerned about the reflection.”

Leah hadn’t taken her eyes from the doorway, and she could just make out a set of eyes moving toward her. She let her fingernails grow into claws, she extended her upper canines and switched to vampire sight. Coming toward her was a nightmare. Her clone was in full vampire mode, dressed in black and covered in shadow and mist. Leah glanced down and saw she was also dressed all in black. As she looked up, she misted her upper body to let her clone’s attacking claws flow through her. The battle had begun. This was more intense than anything that had come before. There was no stopping to talk, no breaks for recovery, just an extended battle as the mist rose slowly from the floor and descended from the roof.

Each of the combatants slashed, twisted, thrust, misted and bled. They bled from a myriad of small incisions or cuts that had been inflicted when they misread an attack, or simply failed to move or mist enough. Leah watched as her health, stamina and BSP all began to drop. After five minutes it was clear to her that the first statistic to fail was going to be the BSP. She started to minimise the use of mist by waiting a little longer before she misted, and in the process found herself on the receiving end of more extensive cuts and deeper puncture wounds. Her health began to fall more rapidly, but she had slowed the drop of her BSP.

Leah had little opportunity to check how the reflection’s statistics were holding up and so she was surprised when the clone suddenly stopped making any attempt to evade and simply attacked mindlessly, neither misting nor defending. Within moments Leah had shredded the reflection’s heart and stood watching as the body disappeared. She stood unmoving as the mist began to dissipate. Leah’s BSP had dropped to 7,190, and meditation couldn’t improve it, so after some quick calculations, she drank some of the blood she’d collected from various animals over the last few days. When her BSP had risen to over 15000, she sat and meditated. Although she wondered what was next, she also spent time pondering on what she could learn from fighting her other self. In the end, she decided it was a reminder that she must always keep her head in the game. Acting or reacting on impulse and emotion without considering consequences was the quickest way to lose.

Finally, her health and stamina were full, and the bell tolled. The symbol was a number six, which she had expected. This time it was surrounded by gems of different colours, each emitting light which shone out into the darkened room. The floor transformed back into a slightly larger version of the original arena. Her reflection was wearing a black leather tunic and trousers with Leah’s favourite piece of armour hitched around its waist, the Belt of Zekâ Irfan.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—MAGE (Level 308) 188288/188288HP (21696EP)

As the clone stepped onto the arena, it cast Chain Lightning. Leah was prepared and had already cast Disc of Death in preparation for the electrical attack as it was often her first instinct. Leah cast True Images just as two more clones appeared beside her reflection. Leah said, “Spread out and keep all three of them busy if you can.”

Leah stepped back and watched the battle unfold while maintaining a constant barrage of small spells to keep her adversaries continually dodging and moving. Leah’s allies had moved to either side of her and cast their own Disc’s of Death. While this dealt with the electrical attacks, it did nothing for the spells of Rain of Fire, Dragon Fire, or Tangle that were sent towards them. One of Leah’s True Images teleported behind one of the clones and cast Freeze, killing the clone. It signalled a spate of teleporting around the room.

One of the clones succeeded in doing significant damage to one of Leah’s True Images with Dragon Fire, but as it stepped toward Leah’s Image to finish it off, it ran into a Circle of Sloth that had been cast. As it slowed it was also caught in a thick tangle of vines cast by Leah. Leah was stepping forward to finish off the clone when she was hit by Tangle and caught the edge of a Rain of Fire spell. Leah quickly cast Heal and noting that her refection had stepped outside the Disc of Death she cast Dark Lightning.

This one spell used half of her remaining mana, but it hit the clone and arced to the last remaining enemy. Within moments both were reduced to ash. Leah’s images disappeared, and Leah was left standing alone in the middle of the arena. While she waited for her mana to replenish she considered the duel and decided she lacked even a basic defensive capability. Except for the electrical attacks, her only defence was to duck and avoid or heal. She knew that her new armour would absorb mana from attacks, as would the Amber Dragon, but she needed to find some stronger defensive spells. She realised that she would either need to devise these herself or buy them.

Sitting there she wondered what would stop attacks of Dragon Fire or Dark Lightning. She asked Gèng to make a list of the different types of attack and what could be used to defend against them. If Leah hoped to defeat a strong mage, then she needed more information. If nothing else, this trial had been worthwhile even if that was all she learned. Finally, her health, stamina and mana were all replenished. She heard the bell toll for what she hoped was the final duel.

The symbol was the number seven. This time the numeral had a crown above it. Leah saw herself in the mirror wearing her new red-trimmed armour, just as when she’d entered the instance.

ATHERLEAH CLONE—EMPRESS (Level 308) 260360/260360 (25512EP)

Leah equipped her bow and fired at the reflection who had equipped the Amber Dragon. Her clone knocked the arrow from the air and retaliated by casting Rain of Fire. As fire rained down on Leah, she responded by moving swiftly toward the reflection and casting Chain Lightning. Neither spell did anything in reducing Leah’s health or that of her reflection, but they did slightly degrade the armour. When Leah was in range, she threw several knives at her clone and cast Tangle. In return, she was almost impaled by her twin’s casting of Disc of Death and several knives of its own.

Leah equipped the Amber Dragon and attacked as soon as she was in range. Her upwards swipe was met with a solid defence. They continued to duel with the swords for several minutes, and though both made it through the other’s defence occasionally, neither was able to penetrate the armour. Almost as one they began to add small castings to their sword duel. Leah would add a touch of Dragon Fire or Electricity. She was nearly caught when her clone cast Circle of Sloth but she defended with a Circle of Sloth spell herself and then added Tangle. Leah was also caught by a Freeze spell and only by equipping a sword in her left hand was she able to evade the sudden slash of her reflection’s Amber Dragon. Leah’s secondary sword suffered some damage from the impact, but it had given Leah time to Teleport away from her twin and Heal her frozen arm.

Using the Amber Dragons meant that neither adversary had used much in the way of health or mana as the sword passed to them any damage they’d inflicted on their opponent. Leah’s clone approached and they began to duel again. This time Leah included her ability to Mist into the fight and was immediately copied. Leah’s doppelgänger equipped a knife in her left hand, and Leah did the same. Neither had suffered the loss of much health, and it looked to Leah as if the fight would continue indefinitely until one of them ran out of stamina or mana. She needed to attempt the unexpected.

Even this momentary reflection was enough to slow her reaction time, and she was hit with Dark Lightning. While some of it was deflected and absorbed by her armour, she did suffer a jolt of pain, and her extremities suffered some burns. As she cast Heal, she concentrated on defence hoping to give herself some distance and some breathing room. Her reflection, however, didn’t give her the time and advanced with a rapid combination of strokes which had Leah reeling backwards to evade the sudden thrust of the sword she knew would be at the end of the combination. Even so, she felt the tip of the Amber Dragon as it pierced her armour and speared into her left thigh. Leah was now firmly on the back foot and retreating as her opponent had been healed with the damage done to Leah. The reflection held both the advantage and the ability to control the conflict.

For almost a minute Leah was entirely reactive, and her health fell below the sixty per cent mark. At different times she’d cast Tangle, Rain of Fire, Chain Lightning, Freeze and even Teleport, but each time her twin matched her spell for spell. She was truly like fighting herself as their choice of spells were so closely matched. Eventually, Leah constructed a plan. After watching how the duel moved around the room, she chose an area on the floor which she observed they often traversed as they moved back and forth. The next time she crossed the area she silently cast Changing Attraction at her feet and moved on. In the time it took for her to spell the floor her clone did more damage and cast Freeze on Leah’s foot. Leah used Heal and her mana level dropped below half. Twice more as they passed over the spot she cast the same spell, slowly reducing the density in that one spot. Finally, Leah felt her feet give a little as she crossed the area. She’d been expecting this and launched a strong attack to keep her reflection off the space.

Image-Leah had more strength and stamina and defended Leah’s attack easily and launched into a sequence of moves which Leah had been finding difficult to deal with in her wounded state. Leah waited, and just before the final step in the sequence she closed her eyes tight and cast one of the bright balls of light she’d learned to construct when fighting the Kraken. Her reflection couldn’t see but ‘knew’ where Leah should be. As it stepped forward its foot landed unevenly, and it began to fall. Leah was the only one who could see, and although she allowed her opponent’s sword to impale her through the hip, her Amber Dragon sliced uncontested through her clone’s neck, decapitating it.

Leah’s health was below a quarter, and her armour had sustained significant damage, but she would recover. The enchantments in the armour would slowly restore it to ‘good as new’ condition. Leah just sat there while the room around her faded from sight. She found herself sitting in the middle of the tunnel with a chest set before her and the previously blocked passage continuing down into the mountain.

Level 4 Personalised Instance: First 10 (1, Ruby)

Atherleah (Level 308), you have completed a personalised instance: Self-Reflection

You are the third player to succeed in defeating this Instance.

Reward 1: 1000 x 308 = 1184260 (+284.5%) Experience Points (2768286/4450000)

Reward 2: + 2% to all future Experience

Reward 3: 1 x 1 Platinum

Fame: 100 Fame Points (254665)

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

Leah opened the chest and found both the map of Yilinlar and the promised medallion for entry to the city. She also found a Platinum coin stamped with the image of the Pantheon of the Gods and a large key with a skull-shaped cut Darkness Diamond for a head. It had a body made from some dark metal and the teeth were on both sides and shaped like ribs.

Leah stood and considered her options. She could head back to the surface and make her way to Yilinlar, or she could see where the tunnel went. It wasn’t difficult to convince herself to continue moving down the tunnel. It continued without any change in direction for several hundred metres and then suddenly ended in a round room. The walls were covered in carvings, each one depicting Dark Elves fighting creatures out of nightmares. Beginning with the picture on the left-hand side of the door the monsters in each subsequent picture became more numerous, were larger, and more fearsome. In the final picture, the elves were overshadowed by an enormous black dragon.

In the centre of the floor was a large plain iron disc. In the centre of the disc was a smaller circle about the size of a dinner plate and in the centre of that was a keyhole. Leah stepped onto the disc.

Atherleah you have found the upper entrance to the Darkness Diamond Mine of Lord Kötü Niyetli. The lowest level is guarded by his youngest offspring, Lady S’yah Kaltak. Atherleah, this mine cannot be claimed as it belongs to Lord Kötü Niyetli.

You have possession of the only key to this upper entrance of the mine. With this, you have access to plunder the mine of Lord Kötü Niyetli. In order to do so, it is highly recommended that you enter the mine with sufficient force to protect yourself during mining. Your reward for finding the mine will be given upon entrance.

Each level has an endless supply of Lord Kötü Niyetli’s minions who will attack any person or group who is mining the Darkness Diamond’s which belong to their Lord. They will attack whenever mining begins and will continue until you leave the mine. This mine has ten levels. The deeper you go, the larger the Darkness Diamonds which can be mined. As you go deeper, you will also find stronger resistance. The lowest level in the mine is 250 or the mean of your group, whichever is higher.

Leah stepped off the disc and checked the time. Altogether she had been in Dunyanin for almost eight hours. She considered her options and then teleported to where she had left Batislar that morning. After changing her appearance, she headed back into the city.

7

December 14, 2073 - Part 7

DUNYANIN

She returned to the armoury and after a few minutes was shown into the office area behind the showroom. After greeting T’sar Rimci, she said, “T’sar, thank you for seeing me. I do not need more armour but was looking for some advice.”

“How may I help you, your Majesty?”

“In the mountains, I have discovered an area to explore, but I need some companions. Are there trustworthy travellers in the city whom you might recommend?”

“Batislar is not well known among travellers, but those we do see are ones with higher levels. At any one time, there are maybe ten to twenty travellers in the whole of the city. I imagine your presence will bring an increase. You are the only traveller from the races of Light who has ever been here. All the others have been Dark Elves, with the occasional Orcs and one Gargoyle I know of who uses Batislar as a base.”

“A Gargoyle?”

“They are rare, but they are created from dwarves in a process somewhat like that which forms vampires. I have only met one traveller who is a gargoyle so I imagine they would never be mentioned among the races of Light.”

“Are there any you would trust enough for me to consider inviting to join me on a quest?”

“I imagine it is similar to those in the races of Light, some are trustworthy, and some are not. In Batislar we do have the headquarters of a traveller’s clan, the Dark Clan of the Broken Falx. It is named after the weapon of choice used by their leader. I have found those in this clan to be true to their word. They are not gentle but they are almost always honourable.”

“How might I find them?”

“Their headquarters is in the same quarter as the tavern I suggested yesterday. Any clan members who are in the city will congregate at the Bristled Boar. It is on the same street as where you stayed last night. Ask for Captain Jack or approach whichever group has the gargoyle as he’s a member of the clan.”

After thanking T’sar for the information, Leah made her way to the tavern she’d stayed in the previous evening, and after booking a room for another night, she headed to the Bristled Boar. Stepping inside Leah looked around the room before heading to the bar. In one corner she spied what had to be the gargoyle. The player was probably three metres tall with massive arms and legs, and a thick, broad chest. Two horns, thick like those of a buffalo, swept backwards from his brow and protected his head. Folded wings could be seen behind his back, and a huge sword rested against the wall beside him.

He was sitting with an orc and five Dark Elves. Two of the Dark Elves looked like specialised mages, but Leah couldn’t pick what the others might be most skilled in. A large curved sword jutted out above the back of one of the Dark Elves. He was of the Siyah Clan like herself but was broader than most elves. He also looked older than many of the other players she’d seen. Their player levels were all greater than 220, and the one she had pegged as Captain Jack was at Level 321.

Leah sat watching them for a few minutes, taking note of what they were drinking and observing their camaraderie. Her examination didn’t go unnoticed. When she was confident that several of them had seen her interest she turned to the barkeep and said, “A drink for each person at Captain Jack’s table. Make them the same as they’ve already ordered and a dark ale for me.”

When the drinks arrived, she grabbed her drink and then followed the waitress to the table. Leah was dressed in her town clothes and had no armour or weapons in sight. She did have several knives equipped, but they were concealed. She stood near the table and looking at the elf she’d pegged as the head of the Broken Falx she said, “Captain Jack I presume. My name is Atherleah and I have a proposition for you and your friends.”

Nobody touched their drinks, and they all tensed fractionally. Captain Jack looked at her for a few moments before he said, “Reports have you further south than this. Aren’t you supposed to be on a quest for one of the gods?”

“My feed is always at least a day behind, and something’s come up just today that I need help with.”

“Why us?”

“I don’t know anyone in the area, and I’m certain I won’t survive where I want to go on my own. Your clan has a reputation for being honourable.”

“What do need us for?”

“I’d like to agree on some conditions first.”

Jack said, “That’s easy. We split everything equally, and I lead.”

“Close, but no cigar. We split everything equally, and I lead. I’ll let you set your people how you want, but I set the agenda.”

“That’s not going to happen sweetheart. I don’t care how good you are, I lead.”

Leah palmed the Darkness Diamond she’d found that day and placed it on the table. “Fair enough I suppose. I’m sorry for the interruption. Have a nice day.” She looked at the gem on the table and said, “That’s for any inconvenience I’ve caused you.” Then she turned to make her way from the tavern.

Captain Jack said, “At least stay and finish your drink. There’s no need to rush off.”

Leah turned back to the table and said, “I’d love to but I if I can’t do this quest tomorrow then I’ll be moving on.”

“When you say I set my people, what does that mean?”

“At the moment, you know their skills better than I do Captain Jack. It’d be stupid not to use that experience. It’s my quest though and so I direct the big picture. You place your team to meet my objectives.”

Captain Jack reached over and picked up the Darkness Diamond, then said, “Call me ‘Jack’. I’m assuming this has something to do with the quest and it isn’t just a prop.”

“It’s not just a prop. Do we have a deal?”

“Any other conditions?”

“Yeah, keep faith!”

Jack looked around the table, catching the eyes of everyone there and then stared at Leah for a minute before saying, “Deal! Have a seat. What do you need?”

Leah pulled a chair over to the table and said, “I have the key to Lord Kötü Niyetli’s Darkness Diamond Mine. I can mine but I need protection while doing so. If you have a Grand Master Miner then they can help with mining. As soon as mining starts we’ll be attacked continuously until we leave the mine. There are unlimited MOBs. The minimum level of attackers is 250 all the way up to one of Lord Kötü Niyetli’s offspring.”

Those at the table sat immobile for a minute, and then the gargoyle smiled and said, “My name’s Granite. I can level up to Grand Master if it helps as I have enough un-allocated points. How many in the group?”

“The only reference I have are some carvings. They show between four and six in a group with one being a miner. If we both mine then I would think ten to twelve including me. MOBs in the pictures attack singly, or as groups, they are all at least as big as me, and some look like they use magic. I’ve no idea what size diamonds are on each level, only that the deeper you go, the bigger the diamond.”

Jack said, “Where is the mine?”

“It’s at the top of one of the mountains near here. I can show you on a map. I imagine it’ll take you a couple hours to travel to the base of the cliff. I can lower a rope to you.”

“How will you get up?”

“I’ll fly or teleport.”

There was silence for a moment, then Jack said, “Can you give us a minute to talk this through?”

“Sure. I’ll wait at the bar.”

Leah had been at the bar considering her options for about fifteen minutes when Jack sat down next to her and said, “We are in. We’ve six in the clan in town at the moment, and I know of three others I’d trust enough to bring along. When and where do you want to meet?”

“Do you have a map?”

Jack pulled out a map of the area. It was clear he had limited the information it showed, but there was still enough detail for Leah to pinpoint the base of the cliff near where she had fought the Eeline. She said, “I’ll drop a rope from the top of the cliff to the base at nine tomorrow morning. Will that give you enough time?”

“Yep. We’ll be there at eight and then log out to get a full nine hours.”

“Then why don’t I have the rope there by eight, and we can take a break at the entrance to the mine. That’ll mean more time to mine.”

They finalised a few more details, then Leah made her way to the tavern and logged out.

THE STORK TOWER

Leah arrived back in the Tower and made her way to the small garden which she used for meditating. Before she reached the garden Gèng joined her, and said, “I’m sorry to interrupt Leah, but John would like a word with you about your mother before you head to Pneumatica.”

Leah changed direction and headed for the sofa. She said, “To be honest I’ll probably feel better knowing more about what is going on with Mum than I would have by resting for a bit. Where’s John?”

“He said he’s open to meet in the Tower or in the lounge near your room.”

“Let him know I’m going to exit the Pod and ask if he could arrange a late meal for me.”

REAL WORLD

Once Leah was out of the Pod she found she had enough strength and range of movement to get herself to the bathroom and to get dressed. She was still in pain but didn’t think she needed to strap the arm for a short talk with John. She found him sitting in the lounge with Michael. Leah sat opposite them and didn’t say anything but grabbed the plate of food and began to eat while waiting to hear what they had to say.

Michael said, “Leah, Mum spent three hours in the Pod. John and I have just spent an hour talking with her discussing her experience. We both read up on Survival, and from what Mum said we are fairly certain she is in their newest and their most advanced survival scenario. It’s called ‘Alien Survival’. In the scenario, she is the sole occupant of an escape pod which has crash-landed on a habitable alien planet. In the scenario setup the player is provided with a range of starting options. These options change what is available in the pod and where it lands on the planet. Lin is stranded in a jungle setting with an empty pod. No food, no water and no weapons. The jungle is hostile and the nearest possible neighbour is at least one hundred kilometres from where she landed. Every time she opened the pod today she was killed within ten minutes by hostile animals and vegetation. In the game, players are resurrected back in the pod immediately. Any implements they have forged or foraged are dropped where they died and remain there. Anything removed from the pod stays removed and can only be found in the place it was left when you died. Your mum spent the last three virtual hours sitting in the pod and staring out the window.”

John said, “She cannot see the sky for the canopy, and we have no way of telling in which part of the jungle she’s been dropped. I’ve been able to find out that her particular scenario currently has just over four hundred players spread throughout the tropical region of the planet over four continents. I’ve asked Reed to see if he can get a general location and asked Stephen to look into what options we have to legally to find out her location. He is fairly sure that we could have her gameplay cancelled, but that doesn’t do us any good. I’m almost certain if we tried to explain why we need her location they’d pull her from the game immediately and that won’t help her at all. We’re going to need to find a way to help your mum survive. We also have to determine a way to get to her location or somehow hack the game server.”

Leah sat for a few minutes and considered the problems. Finally, she said, “Do you have any suggestions before I propose a few things?”

John said, “We’ve been discussing it and think we should get someone in the game with survival skills to see what they can come up with. We need to research all the things she could do and suggest strategies to her. I’m hoping Reed can do something, and if not, then see if the newly famous ‘Vernyx’ can get anywhere.”

“OK! Dad, I know you’re busy in Runes of Destiny, but I think Mum would appreciate you understanding what she’s going through. I suggest you attempt the same scenario as Mum. That way you’ll have something to talk about, and you can help work out how to survive.”

Michael smiled, “I already signed up Leah. As soon as we’ve finished talking I’ll be logging in.”

“Before you do, I think you should attend an online course or do some reading to get some idea of what you should do. Don’t forget you need to make sure the scenario is exactly the same. Do they have more than one planet? Are there differences in continents and can you choose which one, etc.”

Michael nodded slowly and John said, “Any other suggestions?”

“Yeah. John, I’d like you to consider all the people who are using the pods here and see if there is anyone who might be able to do the same thing Dad is doing. The more people we have helping, the better. Offer incentives if you think they’re needed. I’m talking with Leon in the morning, and I’ll put a rush on the centres in the other cities. We’ll ask for help there as well. See if you, or someone, can get a good description of the pod and work out how to scavenge it for weapons, water storage, shelter and the like. Set up an internal forum and have people learn from one another. I want to accelerate the process. If possible, have some people do the scenario with additional food, water and weapons and build up a database amongst players here of fauna and flora, what kills, what can be eaten, etc.

“I’ll ask Gèng to research the company running Survival and see if we can identify someone who may be amenable to helping without pulling Mum from the game. I’m going to wait until we have a location before I enter the game but I will read everything on the forum you set up. As soon as Reed finds a way in, I’ll look into ways that Vernyx might help.”

Michael said, “Who is this ‘Vernyx’?”

John said, “They are a super-hacker that Leah knows. Anything else?”

“Not yet John but if I think of anything I’ll let you know. I’m going to head back to the Pod. I’m hoping to get a step closer to finding Thad in one of the games I play.”

“How’s the shoulder?”

“It’s sore but improving. The nanites have almost finished reattaching all the pieces of bone, but there’s some ongoing internal bleeding and a lot of damaged tissue to remove. Gèng’s working on some new nanite designs by adapting some of the templates in her database, but until we have a protocol for testing them, it’s hard to know if they’ll work or not.”

Michael said, “I don’t want you doing anything too radical, Leah.”

“It’s a bit late for that Dad. Even the small amount you know should tell you we’ve moved way past radical. I’m not as worried about radical as I am about safe. I’d love to discuss it, but I’m going to agree with John and say it is best kept a secret.”

“Does he know everything?”

“No, he doesn’t. I’m still trying to decide if I should tell him or not.”

“I’d like you to tell him. I’m OK not knowing but I’d like someone I trust to know what’s happening just in case. John seems to be that person. Please tell him.”

At that, Michael got up and left the room. Leah said, “John, what do you think?”

“I don’t know what is best, Leah. I’m here for you and I think I already know too much. On the other hand, I do agree that you need someone to know.”

Leah sat for a few minutes considering her situation and then asked, “Is this room soundproof and secure?”

“Not as much as I’d like. The security room down the corridor is though.”

Leah and John moved down to the security room, and after John had kicked everyone out, he double-checked the room for any bugs. When he was satisfied, Leah told John all the things that were happening in her brain and the various storage areas that had been constructed and what was in them. She explained what she’d found in the World Bank and what she’d done. When she’d finished, John sat quietly for a few minutes then said, “I am glad someone knows Leah, just in case something happens to you. To be honest, I wish it wasn’t me. How are you staying focused?”

“I’m struggling. For the last few days it was the task of finding Mum that kept me sane. Today it’s been harder but what you and Dad shared has given me another target to aim for. You know, all I really want is to study and enjoy my family. I like playing the games, but they’ve become more than games. The intensity of them has me wound up so tight at times. I’ve not even had time to stop and rest yet. And add to all of that that I’m sixteen with a new boyfriend whose brain has been hijacked by his evil family. If it weren’t for Gèng helping with my hormonal levels, I’d be a wreck.”

Leah didn’t wait for a reply but stood, smiled at John and headed back to her Pod.

8

December 14, 2073 - Part 8

PNEUMATICA

Leah hurried through the Tower and into Pneumatica where she arrived in the suite of rooms she had rented at the Herrington. As soon as she left her bedroom, Howard, the butler, was waiting. Leah said, “Howard, a Mistress Ellen Bartle and a Mr Henry Ayer are due to see me at nine. Please ask Louise to prepare some tea and cake for when they arrive. I'd appreciate it if you would show them in when they arrive.”

“Certainly, Captain.”

Several minutes later as the clock struck nine, Howard knocked on the door. With him were two people. Howard said, “Captain Charlotte, a Mistress Ellen Bartle and a Mr Henry Ayer are here to see you.”

Leah stood and welcomed the two visitors. After shaking their hands, she indicated for them to take a seat. Louise entered with a small trolley and served the tea and cake. As soon as everyone had been served Louise and Howard left the room. Leah said, “Again, let me thank you for being kind enough to come and see me. I trust your journey was pleasant and without complication.”

For the next ten minutes, they shared pleasantries and discussed the weather, the war efforts, and the scourge of piracy. Finally, the woman said, “Speaking of piracy, Captain Charlotte, I was pleased to hear of your acceptance of a Privateer.”

Leah understood that she had observed all the protocols and they could get down to business. She said, “Thank you. Unfortunately, there were some complications, which now need to be solved. I've appreciated the help of Mr Bartle and thank you for your willingness to meet with me.”

“Indeed, Captain Charlotte, we are more than willing to help Billy and yourself. He was most insistent, and in fact, I am surprised you have waited until now to speak of it. Most from the aether worlds are more hurried.”

“To forego common courtesy for the sake of my own business would be boastful and proud in the extreme, regardless of necessity. Truly, Mistress Bartle, I have appreciated the opportunity to know you both before we come to business. Still, it is true that I am in need of timely help and would beg your pardon if I appear discourteous in my haste. Please feel free to call me Charlotte.”

“Then, you must call me Ellen. I understand you require a range of clothes and some weapons.”

“Indeed, and I was also hoping to have some advice on someone who might assist me with my eye.”

Mr Ayers said, “Charlotte, please call me Henry. Ellen has experience with clothing and style while I have some familiarity with weapons. Billy made several enquiries, and he suggests that we accompany you to the business of a Master Prosthesis Engineer who goes by the name of Thomas Willeford. He has experience in manufacturing and installing some of the best physical enhancements in Aeolipile. After seeing him, if you are not satisfied, then I have the names of two Anatomical Engineers also recommended by Billy. I suggest we look first to your eye and then Ellen and I can help with your other needs.”

Ellen interrupted, “For the sake of privacy and to allow both Henry and myself some time to pursue the best course in helping you, might we discuss your requirements before leaving the hotel?”

Leah said, “Indeed! Henry, thank you for your explanation. I agree that my eye is of first import. Ellen, as regards apparel, I have very little save what I am currently wearing. I would like some general outfits which could be worn when the day is open for a variety of activities. Some should be appropriate for those times I am aboard ship. Some for use in combat and finally several sets of clothing suitable for polite company including attending social occasions such as a ball or meeting with Her Majesty. Cost is no barrier and while I despise pretentiousness, I desire to draw the eye and hold the attention of the Aeolipile’s most influential.

“Henry, as regards weapons, I am capable with both swords and knives and desire a comprehensive selection of both, both visible and invisible, and some suitable as additions for each outfit. Also, I might add other offensive or defensive weapons as you might think appropriate Henry.”

Henry said, “Does such a willingness include musketry, rifles, and pneumatic weapons?”

“Indeed, I desire effective strategies to protect myself and cause damage to my enemies. If it is in your experience, I also require certain tools whereby I might gain entrance to places without recourse to an invitation.”

“Indeed,” said Henry, “I have contacts for such implements and only ask if you have the requisite skills?”

“I have.”

“Ah, I am now more understanding of Billy’s willingness to help you. I assumed his interest was occasioned by your beauty alone but if I also add a penchant for appropriation, then he would find you ineludible.”

Ellen gave a small chuckle and said, “Henry, be aware that Charlotte also offered help to Billy, unasked and without thought of reward. Indeed, I think it is that which touched him most. Charlotte, may I assume you would also appreciate clothing appropriate to such activities?”

“Ah, thank you for that reminder, Ellen, I would indeed. Being aware of my circumstances, would you have other suggestions?”

Henry and Ellen were quiet for a moment then Henry said, “I would be remiss if I did not point out the darker side of our city. Sometimes those whom I understand you might find as your adversaries make use of the elements in this world which only come out after dark. If you plan on visiting establishments unannounced, I suggest you also procure weapons appropriate for use as a supernatural defence.”

“Thank you, Henry, for this reminder. It may be that I might have recourse at some stage to visit certain individuals, or their residences, unannounced. Any help you offer that might make such visits successful would be much appreciated.”

There was silence for a few moments, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, merely an acknowledgement by all that any further discussion would be made elsewhere. Leah carefully placed her empty cup on the small table beside her chair and said, “If you have had sufficient tea then I am at your disposal.”

Both Henry and Ellen stood, and together they made their way from the room followed by Leah. Howard returned them their coats, hats and bags and after handing Leah her hat, he opened the suite’s front door.

After descending to ground level, they made their way out of the Herrington. Once on the street Henry flagged down a passing horseless carriage and gave the address of Master Prosthesis Engineer Thomas Willeford.

Leah noticed Henry brushing against the driver as they entered the carriage and once they were underway she asked, “Henry, please excuse my presumption but what information is there regarding any opposition?”

Henry smiled and removed a small folded note from his glove and said, “There were seven individual watchers at the hotel. Two were your own men, and they have been advised of our itinerary. One belonged to a competing privateer, and she has been sent back to her master with the reminder that you appreciate your privacy. Three had employment with Lord Emerson, and they have been dispatched as has the remaining watcher who was interested in Ellen and me, rather than you.”

“Thank you, Henry, I appreciate your candour. In return might I share that I saw several individuals interested in our journey in a manner beyond what seemed normal? There were three women, four men and three urchins. I can describe these if such numbers are more than those you might have expected to be helping you and Billy.”

Henry hadn’t expected that number, and after hearing the descriptions from Leah, he turned and whispered several directions to the driver. Several minutes later there was a loud commotion on the street behind them, and then, after several turns, the carriage stopped. A somewhat dirty teenager stepped inside. He said, “Pardon Mr Ayer, but you was right. It’s all been taken care of, and we’ll be more observant from now on. If it pleases you, I’d suggest you change carriages when we next stop.”

Henry frowned and said, “So we shall, young Tom, so we shall. I will be discussing this with you later today. Please have a report ready.”

The carriage turned into an alley and stopped beside a similar contrivance and Leah, Ellen and Henry changed carriages. Henry drew the curtains and said, “I do apologise, Captain, I expected better.”

“It is of no concern Henry. I believe I noticed because I was the one who drew their attention. I understand you must keep your people accountable, but I would ask that you make no additional demands because of me.”

Henry nodded, and the rest of the journey to Master Willeford’s workplace was completed in silence. The carriage had stopped outside a boutique-sized store in the centre of Aeolipile. Master Willeford’s name was inscribed in golden letters across the width of the store. In each window was a mannequin with almost every part of their anatomy showing some mechanical substitution, addition or modification. Behind each mannequin were curtains and no section of the inner store was visible. Henry helped both Leah and Ellen from the carriage, and together they entered the establishment.

Inside there were a number of display cases, several armchairs, a reception desk and a receptionist. Henry stepped forward and said, “My name is Henry Ayers, my colleagues and I have an appointment with Master Willeford at ten. I appreciate we are a few minutes early and ask your permission to take our rest inside the store until the appointed hour.”

“Certainly Mr Ayers, these seats are provided for such circumstances. If you would please be seated, I will inform Master Willeford of your arrival.”

They had only been seated for a few minutes when the receptionist returned with a tall gentleman with long hair carefully tied in a ponytail. He was neatly groomed with a trimmed beard, and his right arm was mechanical. Leah could see the clockwork mechanism and several pistons. It was evident from his movement that he suffered no loss of function due to its nature. He said, “Mr Ayers, my name is Thomas Willeford, I suggest you and your colleagues join me in my office and there we might be introduced and discuss business.” He immediately turned and led Henry, Ellen and Leah into the rear section of his premises and into a large rather luxurious office. Henry introduced Leah and Ellen, and they all took their seats in some rather well-stuffed leather armchairs.

Leah said, “Mister Willeford, I appreciate your time and ask that you take no offence if I begin immediately to discuss business.”

“Indeed Captain Charlotte, I have much to do and prefer to get immediately to the point in most discussions. I, like yourself, am a visitor from the Aether Worlds and understand the limitations of time.”

“Please feel free to call me Charlotte, or simply Captain if you are amenable to such familiarity. Mr Ayers and Mistress Bartle have conveyed to me a recommendation of your business as exhibiting both technical and professional excellence, both of which I desire in the person chosen to replace my eye. I was hoping to discuss my options and how you might be able to assist. I trust that carrying out our discussions in a manner suitable to their presence is acceptable?”

“Such familiarity is indeed acceptable as is the style of communication. I ask that you call me Thomas. Do you wish to discuss this in private or are you comfortable to do so in the presence of Mr Ayers and Mistress Bartle?”

“I have no concern with their presence, rather I find it both comforting and helpful as they have much to offer by way of suggestion and experience.”

“Indeed. Now, before I make suggestions concerning your options could you please allow me to look carefully at the damage to ascertain what is needed and what is possible?”

Leah removed the bandage which covered her eye and remained still while Thomas took a close look. He said, “Have you had a look at the damage?”

Leah hadn’t really, so Thomas took a mirror from his desk drawer and held it up for her to examine her eye. Leah could see an open expanse where her eye usually was. Inside she could see flesh and the optic nerve. Her upper eyelid was gone, and a scar ran horizontally from the side her eye to her ear where she could see that the top third was scarred as if it had been torn off and then healed while held in the wrong position. She looked for a few moments and then nodded.

Thomas said, “I can replace the eye in whole and the ear in part or in whole. Your options are multiple. The replacement can be similar to your natural eye, or you could have multiple attachments or enhancements which usually adds some weight while increasing visibility. The same is true for your ear. I believe the damage to the ear is only external and it would be unnecessary to do more than provide an external replacement, with or without enhancements and attachments.”

“Do you have any diagrams or examples to help me better understand what you mean? If not, would you be able to give a more detailed description of the options?”

Thomas took out some diagrams and prototypes from previous work he’d done and then he described each of them in some detail. Both Ellen and Henry added their comments on how such prostheses were viewed and used.

After some discussion, Leah said, “Thank you for those insights. I favour a full replacement of the eye including both the upper and lower lids. My preference is for the replacement to be of similar size and positioning as the natural eye. It should include the ability to be used without attachment as either a microscope or telescope with an option to add additional lenses as desired. I prefer your most sturdy materials and finest work. In its normal state, I would like the pupil and iris to be similar in appearance to my insignia. As for the ear, I suggest the upper half be replaced with the inclusion of aids and or attachments to increase hearing and also to supplement that with the ability to include frequencies oft found outside the normal human range.”

Thomas considered what Leah said for a few moments then said, “What materials do you prefer?”

“I am impartial and will leave it to you regarding the most appropriate choice including the option of making them from Maxwellian Bronze. I also find myself in a position where I must promote myself among the so-called nobility. I am not against the idea of overt displays of exceptional refinement. As such, should the opportunity exist to elegantly embellish the prostheses with precious metals or gems, then this is desirable.”

Thomas said, “Charlotte, such as you describe will be somewhat costly.”

“I understand, and though my good sense and natural inclination declare it an extravagance, I am convinced that availing myself of the best quality will reap sufficient benefit in the long term to defray the additional cost.”

“I see. Do you have any other suggestion as to possible additional attachments for your prostheses?”

“Beyond those which improve vision and hearing to the limits of your engineering, and as appropriate and suitable to fit within the designs mentioned, I have three suggestions. First, is it possible to connect a musket or projectile weapon by some means that it might be fired accurately via an image sent to the new eye? This would aid in the event of having to fire from within cover. Next, is it possible to provide a connection to any devices without a physical link? Finally, I would like an attachment for both my eye and ear whereby I can use both eyes or ears in the enhanced mode.”

Thomas discussed possibilities and though he could affirm the possibilities of Leah’s first and third suggestions he did not think any non-physical connection was possible. He did agree to make enquiries from other engineers. Finally, he asked that Leah return on the following day to review his design and quotation. Once this was done, Leah handed him five hundred pounds and said, “Please accept this as a downpayment and indication of my sincere desire to use your services. I understand some time will be spent in creating the design and I would not be in debt to you.”

Thomas said, “If I might step away from my role as a Master Prosthesis Engineer for one moment, might I discuss something with you as a visitor from the Aether Worlds?”

“Certainly. Mistress Bartle, Mr Ayers, would either of you be offended if I have a moment in private with Master Willeford?”

Both Ellen and Henry agreed readily and stepped out into the reception. When Leah was alone with Thomas, he said, “Charlotte, don’t take this wrong but you’re nuts to take on the Emersons. I’m well connected in the city, as this is my favourite game, and I can tell you they are ready and waiting for you and they own this game. I’m willing to help, but if they know I helped you, and they ask me about you then I’ll roll over pretty quickly. You’re new, and you’ve had a lot of luck so far, why not just have fun instead of attacking the number one player in this world?”

“I joined this world for the express purpose of taking him on Thomas, it’s not a whim.”

“Then why do it?”

Leah was silent for a moment and then she described what she’d found on the Tempest. She described how many players were being used as slaves by the wealthy players. Thomas, who'd moved forward in his chair to talk with Leah, finally slumped back looking stunned.

“So the rumours are true?”

“Yep, have you had your personal space tested?”

“Yes, but only because it was recommended, not because I knew what the dangers were. I didn’t believe the conspiracy nuts.”

“They aren’t nuts.”

“Some are, just because this is true doesn’t mean everything they say is. I mean, only yesterday I heard the Vault had been breached.”

Leah stared silently at him and raised her right eyebrow and then purposely squeezed her lips into a straight line.

Thomas stared back for a moment, then said, “Who are you? I’ve never heard of a Charlotte before, do you work for security?”

“No, I’m a private player. If you promise not to roll over quickly, I’ll tell you who I am as I’m sure the Emersons will know within days.”

“Deal.”

“I also play as a half-elf in Dunyanin. My name is Atherleah.”

Thomas squinted his eyes and looked closer. Finally, he said, “I can see it now.” He was silent for maybe twenty seconds then said, “That would mean the Kodomans are like the Emersons and they're involved in slavery, wouldn't it? How many others?”

“My lawyer has suggested that I shouldn’t ever even suggest a connection one way or another. Personally, however, I think your logic is impeccable.”

Thomas and Leah sat in silence while they both considered what else could or should be said. Eventually after several minutes and some deep breaths Thomas said, “My cousin is hooked on Cosmos Online. It’s all she plays, day and night. She moved out of home and into one of the big Pod megacomplexes. My aunt says they never hear from her and instead of the bright, lively girl she used to be she is abrupt and non-communicative all the time. I’ve ignored my aunt's concerns because I know so many people who get hooked and their personalities change, I’m one of them myself. Could she be a slave?”

“I don’t know, Thomas. I know that people who use slaves operate in Cosmos Online. I’ve talked with people who have been used as slaves in Cosmos Online and so I have some ideas as to where they use slaves. If your cousin is heavily involved in mining or resource acquisition or if she is working in a dangerous occupation such as fighter pilot then I wouldn’t be surprised. If she won’t talk about her obsession, then I’d be concerned. If you let me know where she lives and where she plays, I’ll look into it using some resource people I know.”

“Damn, I’ve ignored my aunt and my mum for years about Naomi. How long have the slaves been around?”

“One of the people involved told me he knew of someone who has been a slave for over thirty years.”

“Shit! Shit! Shit! What do I do?”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Thomas. You can’t take the blame for their actions. Now you know, I suggest you get me the information about your cousin. Be on the lookout for others who might be in this situation. Use your skills to look for ways to help. I’d rather you don’t help the Emersons, but I understand this is your business and your livelihood. Try and see your cousin and see if you can have her space cleansed. You should be aware that it isn’t an easy thing to convince someone to do that and that going to the authorities with a supposition and no proof is almost pointless and can certainly be counterproductive at times. Some of those in security have very strong connections with the wealthy. Please don’t use my name too openly but I understand if it is with people you trust completely. Get the word out in general terms, because the more people working against this, the more chance of doing some good.”

“How many slaves are there do you think?”

“Low-end, worldwide, around 250 million.”

Thomas sat there stunned for another minute, then said, “I’ll have the designs ready in the morning.” He took the money she’d given him and handed it back to her and said, “This is my initial contribution to ending the Emersons. I’ve been complacent but I’m not going to stay that way. Believe it or not, I have skills of my own that transcend this game, and I’ll look into what you’ve said. I also have a community of people I trust. When I have a better idea of how I can help, I’ll contact you.”

Leah smiled, shook his hand then headed out to the reception area before leaving the store.

Once they were on the street, Henry said, “You were some time with Master Willeford, I trust all is well.”

“It is indeed thank you, Henry. He needed to discuss some things concerned with the Aether Worlds, and I believe I was able to answer his questions and impart some knowledge. Where shall we go now?”

“Ellen and I discussed this while you were occupied and believe that attire is easier to conform to weapons than weapons to attire and so our next stop will be to an acquaintance of mine who has some expertise in the design and production of weapons. Is this acceptable?”

Leah agreed and followed her two guides through the inner city shopping district. Ellen and Henry took turns in describing the various shops and pointing out important landmarks. Turning a corner, another pedestrian ran into Leah and apologised before moving on. Henry immediately said, “I suggest you check your valuables, ‘pockets’ are common in the city.”

Leah smiled and said, “He did lift my purse, but it was my diversionary purse with only a few pounds. Don’t be too concerned as I relieved him of several wallets and purses which I’m sure will hold greater value.”

Henry smiled but then he made a faint gesture with his hand, and a well-dressed lady crossed the street and approached him. He explained what had happened and after describing the pedestrian, asked for her to find him and have Leah’s purse returned. Leah offered to return what she’d taken but was told to forget it.

Henry said, “You are clearly with me, and every ‘pocket’ should know to leave my party alone. It isn’t that they know me, but I have markers that distinguish me as untouchable. Ellen and I acquired them this morning. Those who work here should know to leave us, and those with us, alone. That someone might break such agreements is disturbing. Your reaction was acceptable and appropriate, but it is not sufficient. After we have finished looking at weapons, I expect we will have a discussion with the overseer of the central district, and at that time we should receive at least an apology. I expect your actions will lift us in her eyes, not bring us down. Have no worries. Now let us continue on, as the establishment I am heading to is in this next set of shops.”

Within minutes Henry led Ellen and Leah into a large and expensive looking millinery. Several assistants were helping customers, and a young woman similarly dressed approached Ellen and said, “Welcome to Wilbur’s Millinery, may I assist you in any way?”

Henry said, “You may, my name is Mr Henry Ayers, and I was hoping to introduce these two ladies to Wilbur himself with regards his exclusive collection.”

The assistant dipped her head in acknowledgement and said, “Please wait here, I will see if the Master Milliner is free.” She then walked through a closed door into the rear of the shop.

Less than a minute later she returned and said, “Master Wilbur is available and invites you to the upper showroom for a consultation. Please follow me.”

Leah, Henry and Ellen followed her through a storeroom and up two flights of stairs. A small and rather rotund man was waiting on the second landing. After thanking the assistant for bringing his guests, he greeted Henry warmly then said, “So Henry, how might I help you today?”

“This young lady is Captain Charlotte and is a newly appointed Privateer. She is both an acquaintance and friend of Billy Bartle and was looking to purchase an assortment of the better pieces from your exclusive range.”

“Captain Charlotte, you have a strong reference in Billy and Henry for access to my exclusive collection. I do require, however, that the exclusive nature of this collection remains private and is not shared without my permission. Is this acceptable?”

“It is, Master Wilbur. I assume that any purchases I make are also kept private.”

“That is my usual practice, and such a condition may always be specially purchased.”

Leah laughed and said, “What an interesting idea Master Wilbur. I suggest then that my own usual practice of privacy will be best preserved with a discount of similar value to the additional expense your silence will cost.”

Wilbur’s face lost a little of its charm, and he said, “Your statement had the merest hint of threat in it Captain Charlotte. I find myself in the unusual position of suggesting you conclude your business elsewhere.”

“If that is your wish, Master Wilbur. Please note that while I am guided by both Master Battle and Mr Ayers as to whom I look to regarding my needs, I look to myself with regard to my own honour. Be assured that I neither sell it nor is it for sale. Also, neither it nor I may be disregarded with the tilt of a head and a quick dismissal. I respectfully suggest you choose your customers with the utmost care and consideration.”

Both Henry and Ellen had gone still and averted their eyes so as not to look at either Wilbur or Leah. Wilbur was slightly flushed and glared at Leah while she in turn simply looked at him with cold and calculating eyes. After an uncomfortable silence, Wilbur nodded and gave a small smile which never reached his eyes. He said, “A kind and well-considered suggestion Captain Charlotte, please join me inside to discuss your needs.”

Leah nodded and followed Wilbur into a large room with shelf after shelf of weapons of every kind. Henry and Ellen followed silently behind them. Henry had a good idea of both what Wilbur had available and what would be suitable for Leah’s needs. As Wilbur went to retrieve a variety of knives, Henry quietly said to Leah, “I believe the weapons here are superior to elsewhere but with the slight suggestion of disharmony outside I suggest we obtain those items necessary to visit places unannounced at another establishment.”

Leah nodded almost imperceptibly and was silent until Wilbur returned. In the end, Leah was able to purchase an excellent selection of throwing knives and fighting knives in addition to several muskets and pistols including one which included the option of small guided projectiles. After arranging for them to be delivered to the Herrington, Leah paid for them.

Wilbur said, “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Captain Charlotte. I expect that you found everything you need.”

“Such a high expectation Master Wilbur is, I find, seldom achieved. Even so, I have found this experience to be satisfactory in meeting my basic needs, and I appreciate your time.”

“I assure you, Captain, that what you have purchased is certainly beyond what many perceive as basic. Each piece is of exceptional quality.”

“I assure you I did not mean to suggest that the pieces themselves were anything less than exceptional. Rather I was commenting on my own needs and how I have not yet everything I need to satisfy my desires. I thank you for assisting as you have and I wish you a good day.”

“Captain, I assure you that whatever else you require I have the experience and connections to satisfy you.”

“I applaud your self-confidence Master Wilbur. Truly it is a secure individual who understands their own worth regardless of how others see them. Thank you again for your time.”

At that Leah made her way out of the room and down the stairs before exiting onto the street. Henry and Ellen followed in silence until they got to the street where Henry turned to Leah and speaking quietly said, “Captain, if I might be bold I would suggest that you spoke in a somewhat indiscriminate manner with Master Wilbur and might have brought some harm to Master Bartle’s relationship with him.”

“If such harm does come to Master Bartle, then I implore you to let me know, and I will rectify the situation. I would insist however that Master Wilbur would be better served by honouring those who seek his service rather than treating them with contempt. I was tempted to forego all purchases and only continued due to Master Bartle’s reference and your own. Now let us put this behind us and continue in the pursuit of our goals. I will understand if you find yourself no longer able to give advice.”

“Not at all Captain. I am committed to you and to Master Bartle. Before we visit the next establishment, I suggest we take some tea to calm ourselves and be rid of any unpleasantness.”

Leah smiled and said, “Lead on Henry, as I assume we are directed to such a course of action by the overseer of these streets.”

Henry nodded, and the three of them made their way into a nearby café where they were escorted to a rear table that was already occupied. After sitting down, Leah was introduced to a well-dressed elegant lady in her early fifties with the name of Mistress Westmorten. The other person was the young man who had bumped into her.

Mistress Westmorten said, “Welcome to Aeolipile Captain Charlotte, I am pleased to meet our newest Privateer, one of those who help keep us safe from the enemy, and from the unscrupulous. I believe you had the pleasure of meeting my son, James.”

Leah nodded to them both and said, “Thank you for your welcome Mistress Westmorten. I find the city quite delightful. You are correct that I have met your companion, although you must forgive me for neither knowing his name nor his relationship to you. Our meeting was without conversation and brief beyond comprehension.”

Mistress Westmorten carefully placed Leah’s small purse on the table and said, “I must apologise for James as he inadvertently discovered you had dropped this. He was quite disturbed that you had disappeared before he could return it. Please accept it back at my hand.”

Leah picked up the purse and said, “I thank you, and James, for your kindness in returning it to me. I wonder if James noticed that several shillings must have fallen from it when it fell, but no matter, I do appreciate its return.”

Mistress Westmorten hardly blinked before turning to James and saying, “James, when you found the Captain’s purse did you by any chance notice that some coins may have fallen from it?”

James smirked and said, “Mother, she has her purse, and that is the end of it. If some coins are missing that is nothing to what was stolen from me. If anything, the bitch should be forced to give back what she stole. I’m sick of these stupid charades. We run the city, not these scum.”

Before his mother could respond, Leah said, “Mistress Westmorten, before we continue our discussion I wonder if I might order a herbal tisane? I find myself somewhat distressed and in need of a simple remedy. Perhaps Ellen and Henry will join me in examining the selection of cakes. Might I offer you something as well?”

Mistress Westmorten smiled and said, “I am quite content as regards refreshment at the moment Captain Charlotte but I thank you for your kindness. James and I will be pleased to await your return.”

Leah smiled, and James and Ellen joined her at the counter as she chose a herbal infusion and a piece of chocolate cake. Neither Ellen nor Henry wanted anything but Henry whispered, “I didn’t know it was her son or I wouldn’t have done anything. He has always been a bit of a loose cannon and tends to violence, people stay clear of him. Please be careful.”

They returned to the table and waited in silence until the tea and cake were brought. After the waitress had left Mistress Westmorten said, “I must apologise, but it seems my son did not notice any coins that fell. I also apologise for his intemperate words and trust this is the end of the matter.”

Leah nodded and said, “I assure you, Mistress Westmorten, that I have taken no offence neither by your son’s inability to hold on to a few coins nor for his disregard of the markers purchased by Master Bartle’s acquaintances. Even his inability to keep a civil tongue has caused me no distress.”

As soon as Leah had begun talking James had been bursting to interrupt but was hindered by his mother’s hand which had grabbed his arm and was clutching it firmly.

Mistress Westmorten said, “So we agree, this matter is closed.”

James took a breath as if to speak but his mother spoke first and continued, “My son has pointed out that we, the Westmortens, have been somewhat dishonoured by his person being robbed in our area of influence. Both he and I would appreciate the return of such items as such behaviour is unacceptable in an area under my control.”

Leah smiled and said, “Mistress Westmorten, I understand your concern that someone might seek to undermine your authority. I have experience with such and agree that respect by all parties is important. Respect, however, goes both ways. If I was then to show respect such as has been offered I would say, ‘I have no items on my person that belong to James.’”

“Captain Charlotte, your acquaintance with Master Bartle will not protect you, should we feel disrespected.”

James leaned forward and almost spat at Leah as he spoke, “So hand back what you took and then get out of our area, or you’ll regret it.”

“Regret, it is such a strange word, James. I regret not being able to have a courteous word with you and your mother. I regret that this simple misunderstanding is being inflamed into something where violence is offered. I regret I sought to teach you a lesson by pocketing that which you had pocketed. I regret having met you. Even so, neither you, nor your family will dissuade, nor prevent me from travelling where and when I wish. As for your comments Mistress Westmorten, please be assured that while I appreciate the help of Master Battle in providing these excellent guides to your city, I am certainly capable of dealing with threats on my own. Now, before any of us say something from which we cannot come back, I will leave you to your private thoughts. Please excuse me, but I have work to do. Good day.”

Leah stood and left the store before anyone could make a comment, although she could hear James yelling something as she turned onto the street. Ellen and Henry caught up with her before she had passed the next shop.

Henry said, “Captain, I will be surprised if we are able to leave the city alive.”

“It is of no moment. Rather I suggest you either leave me to my own devices or direct me to a reputable and exclusive weapon’s dealer.”

“If I leave you alone I fear Billy will have me skinned alive. Please follow me.”

Their destination was a legitimate weapon’s store where Leah purchased an exquisite sword made of Maxwellian Copper and another of folded steel similar to a katana. She also purchased a pair of matching pistols and a leather harness with holsters. Following this, Ellen took them to several high-end dressmakers and a number of fashion boutiques where Leah was able to purchase a wide range of clothing that would be delivered to the Herrington.

As they were leaving the last shop, Henry said, “I will have the other equipment you discussed delivered to the Herrington tomorrow. I suggest we leave the city and make our way back to your hotel where we shall part ways. I implore you to take care on the streets and in particular when you visit Master Willeford tomorrow. I would suggest you allow me to have Billy provide an escort.”

“Thank you, Henry, but you have done enough. My conflicts with Mistress Westmorten, Lord Emerson and Master Wilbur are of my own making. I appreciate the advice that you and Ellen have given me today.”

Henry called a carriage but before it arrived a well-built man dressed in black leather and with a silver sword at his side said, “Captain Charlotte, I, Hugh Westmorten, declare that you are a woman of loose morals, a person without honour who by her loose lips and intemperate speech has defamed my family beyond consolation. I challenge you to a duel that I might prove your words false and regain the honour sullied by your actions.”

Leah quickly subvocalised, “Gèng, what are the rules for duels?”

“Any citizen can demand satisfaction from another citizen of the same rank or a rank not greater than two below or one higher. The issue must be because of honour, and the weapons are usually pistols or swords but can be anything. The person challenged is able to choose the weapon. Should the challenged decline the duel they are considered without honour and demoted to a new citizen and are without rank. Duels are to first blood or the death by agreement.”

“Well, it looks like I can’t escape this so I might as well truly be intemperate.”

Leah turned to her challenger and said, “Westmorten, Westmorten, hmmm, now what did I say that might have sullied the common name of Westmorten? Oh, I remember, I have a view of James, I expect his last name is possibly Westmorten, which is true if indeed he is the legitimate child of Mistress Westmorten. Not that I have anything against illegitimacy per se except it would give me licence to call him a bastard, but that it is of no matter. Both he and Mistress Westmorten are so alike I do not doubt the familial connection. I did not say this aloud, but perhaps Mistress Westmorten can read minds as I did think that he was an honourless, unrefined, blaggard without any redeemable qualities.

“I considered offering to end his life if he tried to steal from me again, or even if he spoke to me. His character is tarred with indecency and his language with obscenity. Now, I assume you think I am besmirching the name Westmorten by these comments and you would be right as I did consider silently that I had no respect for a mother who allowed their dependent son, even though he is of age, to behave with such indecency. As you have the name Westmorten and you seek to defend such a family, I suspect you are just as reprehensible.

“Therefore, although I have no wish to cause you harm, I accept your challenge. I expect you wish a duel to first blood. I say this as your family exhibits craven tendencies for they sent you rather than the aggrieved. What are your suggested terms and when do you wish to defend your much-maligned honour?”

“Tomorrow at dawn, a duel by swords to the death.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to take my breakfast and my bath at that time. Also, I expect a few people will wish to be present to see your honour restored. Might I suggest nine as I have a meeting at ten and our dispute will certainly be finished before then? I would prefer not to kill you but as you insist I will agree to honour being won by death. Now, as I am free to choose weapons and as I have no desire to sully my new purchases with your blood, I regret to say I will not choose swords. I desire the duel to be decided by unarmed combat. Also, I suggest as it is the honour of Mistress Westmorten and James Westmorten that is at stake that they are present when I prove their infamy upon your body.”

Hugh looked uncertain and fingered his blade but his anger pushed him, and he said, “I agree, and James will be my second. Have you a second?”

Leah was about to say no, but Henry stepped forward and said, “I, Henry Ayers, am pleased to offer my services as a second for Captain Charlotte.”

Leah smiled and said, “Wonderful, I’ll let you work things out while I go have some tea. Good day.”

Moments later Ellen led Leah into a carriage and escorted her back to the Herrington. On the way, Ellen said, “Hugh is a famous duelist and one of the reasons Mistress Westmorten is overseer of the city. Even without a weapon he is almost twice your size and is very fit. I know he is practised in the art of fisticuffs. You are at a disadvantage without both eyes. I know you are from the Aether Worlds, and you will not die, but you will lose your rank and your property.”

“Have no fear, Ellen. Even if all that is true, then all it does is set me back to the start. Be encouraged, I have some skill and might even prevail.”

As Leah entered the Herrington Albert Lincoln approached her and said, “Welcome back Captain. Some purchases arrived for you and are available in your suite. I have already heard of your impending duel, and I wish you every success for tomorrow. Please know that despite the rumours I am somewhat convinced you shall prevail.”

Leah turned and with a smile said, “What odds are being offered?”

“I have two pounds on you at ten to one Captain.”

“Might you be swayed to make a wager on my behalf?”

“It would be my pleasure, Captain.”

Leah checked her finances and handed two thousand pounds to Albert and said, “I hope this is not too much?”

Albert took the money and after counting it said, “Not at all Captain, I will see if I can find even better terms for your wager.”

“Thank you Mister Lincoln. Now, I bid you good night.”

Leah went up to her suite and logged out.

ACADEMIA - DR ELLIS’ LABORATORY

Back in the Tower Leah hurried to the level which had the portal to Dr Ellis’ laboratory and after making sure she was correctly dressed, she stepped through. As soon as she arrived Dr Ellis’ AI must have notified him for he appeared and headed in her direction.

“It is good to see you, Leah, although I was quite upset last night when you did not show. I’ve been working almost non-stop to align the various accelerators, and I hope we can do a test run this evening. First, I think I deserve at least some explanation why you weren’t here.”

“Dr Ellis, according to the MIT Student Guide, I am not required to explain beyond a statement that I had a personal emergency. Even so, I think you deserve a better explanation. I am willing to explain what happened but I can’t explain it to you here where my explanation may be recorded because my reason is somewhat personal. I invite you to my personal space, or somewhere else if you have another suggestion.”

“I see, no actually I don’t really. Um, is this personal situation likely to happen again sometime in the future?”

Leah paused for a moment, thinking, then shaking her head said, “I hope not, but the future, at this time, is not able to be visited.”

“Now that was an interesting pause and turn of phrase. This is why I want you to work here. What do you mean, ‘at this time.’?”

“It’s nothing beyond some simple musings Dr Ellis, it’s just when you mentioned the future, my mind considered certain equations we discussed yesterday, and it opened up an avenue for further consideration of the equations I have derived.”

“Although my curiosity is alive and well, I will respect your privacy. I want some warning if it’s likely it will happen again.”

“Certainly, Dr Ellis. I, or my AI, will contact you immediately should there be any issue that prevents me from being here.”

“Good, then come and help me finish installing these accelerators. Many so-called ‘experimental physicists’ simply have their AI install new equipment, but I find doing it myself is good practice for when I have to work on the real thing. I know you don’t have access to a real laboratory yet but when you do you will find this invaluable.”

Leah spent the next hour and a half helping to install and then align the new equipment before she headed back to the Tower. Dr Ellis said he would work on testing the equipment the next day and hopefully the next time Leah was in the laboratory they could begin testing her hypotheses. As soon as Leah arrived in the Tower, she sat down and finished her daily diary. As soon as she’d finished, she logged out for a snack and a bathroom break.

Diary - 14 December, 2073

I’m still reeling from yesterday and the ongoing consequences. I’ve hidden my fears behind a wall, but when I think about it, I realise just how shaky that wall is. I’ve gone through today with a mask on, and no one realises that most of it is an act. An act that’s necessary so I don’t crumble into little bits. But what else can I do? I have to be strong for Dad and Conner? Or, do I? What would happen if they knew how frail I felt? How unsure? Would their confidence be shattered? Their hopes? Do I think less of them when they show their feelings, their concerns?

Maybe. Maybe I do. I’m convinced I don’t love them any less, it's just that knowing the truth changes how I act. I don’t think of them as failures, I just think differently about them. Their uncertainty isn’t—‘bad’, it just—‘is’. I’m pretty sure I’m being honest when I say that, but then I worry they’d think less of me if they really ‘knew’ me. Double standards I think. Am I giving them false hope? Or, am I just being honest and recognising that this is the best way to help them?

I’m probably foolish to think they don’t see straight through me anyway. Just like Olivia could read me at a glance I bet Dad and Conner see far more than I think I’m communicating. Her ability to understand all the non-verbal clues was uncanny. I guess it means that people aren’t all that different from each other as we think we are. I mean, and this is a scary thought, I understand the craziness I see in Meredith’s eyes. I recognise the cold aloofness in Nathan’s. Does this mean that somehow I’m potentially just as broken as I think they are?

If so, then that old saying, ‘there but for the grace of God, go I’ has more meaning. My circumstances, experiences, family, culture and friends shape me. Nothing is black and white, or just one dimensional. In the same way that I could beat my ‘clones’ because I had a wider foundation of experiences to draw upon. Maybe, put in Nathan’s shoes, and having his experiences, I’d be just as bad. Then again, maybe not. Those things may explain why he is like he is but they don’t take away from him the responsibility to rise above that and to be a better person.

I understand him, but it is my choices which determine that I am not him. Or Meredith. Or John Emerson. Or John Welford. I’m me, not only because of my experiences but because of the choices I made along the way. I can’t change my circumstances, but I can change what I do in those circumstances.

I can’t change how I feel at the moment, how uncertain. But I can change what I do with the uncertainty. The wall may be shaky, but it will hold, that is my choice.

9

December 15, 2073 - Part 1

THE STORK TOWER

After a midnight snack Leah headed back to the Tower. Gèng had arranged for some early morning meetings, but the first wasn’t scheduled until 1.00 AM real time. Leah had just under three hours of virtual time before she had to be somewhere or do something. She considered having a lesson but decided to spend some time just relaxing. She decided, in the end, to walk through the Tower and discuss its development with Gèng.

Standing at the front entrance, Leah could look out over a lush and fertile valley. In the distance behind the Tower, the valley was surrounded by tall mountains with permanent snow on their peaks. From the mountains small streams eventually gathered in a series of fast flowing streams which collected into a series of small lakes, one of which was close to the first and most prominent building which made up the Tower. Some streams actually ran past and through the Tower complex. From the lakes, a broad more peaceful river flowed further down the valley before disappearing eventually into a verdant forest some distance away.

Gèng had been working on increasing the size and complexity of Leah’s personal world, and they talked about what types of creatures might be added to the forest and valley. Gèng was working on creating a herd of horses for the valley in case Leah wanted to explore via horseback. Leah suggested unicorns and the discussion deteriorated into the possible inclusion of a magic system in Leah’s universe. No conclusion was reached but Leah found the discussion both relaxing and stimulating, although in different ways.

Gèng had moved the entrance podium which looked like a medium sized gazebo made of dressed stone with a red tiled roof. It now stood across one of the small streams and was accessible via a walkway and a traditional Chinese arched wooden bridge. The bridge was located just below one of the many small waterfalls. During the night the path was lit with Chinese lanterns and during times when it rained, and during the day, shade was provided by a tiled roof which appeared when needed.

Gèng had filled the river with fish and different types of wildlife. She was still working on a self-correcting ecosystem. She and Leah spent a little time discussing how to include a food chain in what was to be a peaceful setting.

The Tower itself was built on a series of rocky outcrops. Currently, there were four separate buildings. Streams ran between the buildings, and they were connected by a series of bridges and walkways. The central tower had eight levels, where each additional level looked slightly smaller than the one below it. Inside the building, Gèng manipulated the space and adapted it as needed. Besides the main level which included Leah’s favourite sofa and an assortment of other chairs, there was a room for meditation which was large enough to contain a swimming pond, trees and an open sky.

Each of the main worlds that Leah played in had its own level, although which world was on which level changed to help Leah easily get where she wanted to go. Besides a portal to enter the world, there were pictures of significant events, statues, and rooms to display items Leah had collected or earned as well as walk-in storage areas for clothing and weapons. There was a level for Dunyanin, one for Cosmos Online, and another for Pneumatica, although the Pneumatica level was accessed not by a stairway but by the SPIDER. Gèng created a separate tier for Leah’s studies, and this now included an area where Leah could construct her own virtual experiments. The sixth level was set aside for those worlds that Leah had entered but didn’t play full time, such as Dark Moon Duel and Runes of Destiny. On the seventh level, Gèng had begun to collate the slavery information in a visual form for Leah to access when she had the time. The final level was Gèng’s world.

The next complete building was used as a meeting place by people who worked for Leah. Susan, Stephen, Peter, and Leon to name a few had their own office area. One tier was used for group meetings. Most of them found they preferred to work in Leah’s world because of the fantastic views and atmosphere. Gèng organised the space so each office looked out over the valley most appreciated by its occupant. Gèng told Leah that each of the AIs belonging to people using the area had shown increased sentience even over the last week.

The other two buildings were mostly empty, although one had a training room and Gèng had equipped it with a range of weapons. When Leah had time, Gèng hoped John and others might take the opportunity to train with Leah. Leah hadn’t seen the training area before and loved the idea. She wondered if it was worth asking her dad to allow Conner to have an AI implanted if he could train with her occasionally. She decided she would leave it for a later time to discuss with Michael.

When Leah asked what was in the final building, Gèng explained there were portals to the top of the ski slopes she’d designed in the mountains, and she was storing skis there as well as working on designing boats and canoes for use on the rivers. Leah asked for some climbing equipment. Altogether the casual walk took an hour of virtual time, and when she’d finished, Leah made her way back to the study area and began to consider afresh the different equations quaternary level braid equations she’d formulated.

While she’d been talking with Dr Ellis, she realised her equations were limited in that they described how aether dimensions could connect two points in our space-time universe with an assumption that time was moving and unidirectional. While she’d taken account of relativity, she had neglected to consider how aether dimensions might be described and or constructed outside of the space-time matrix. Could she describe an aether dimension which allowed for instantaneous movement from one location in our universe to another? She also began investigating if it might be possible for a similar type of dimension to be constructed between a point in space and the same point at a different time. If it was possible, then how would time be described in that dimension?

After two hours she’d developed a few vague ideas on instantaneous translocation but had made no progress on the idea of time travel. Leah had suggested that Gèng let her increase her neural processing speed, but Gèng was adamant that until Leah’s system had fully recovered and Gèng understood the changes taking place that it would be foolish. Leah reluctantly stopped working on the equations when Gèng told her that Susan and Sarafaraz would be arriving at the entry podium in five minutes. Leah sighed and headed down to the entry portal.

Leah greeted Susan and Sarfaraz at the podium and walked with them back to the Tower and into the lower level where they joined Gèng. Once they were all seated Leah said, “Gèng tells me you have a possible, or more accurately, a partial solution that would allow her to manage her own funds.”

Susan said, “We do, although it is more the Sarfaraz’s idea than mine. It’s from his research, and he’s done most of the heavy lifting. So I’m going to let him explain.”

Everyone turned to Sarfaraz. “To be clear, it is only an idea, but it’s the best we’ve been able to come up with. We were unable to find any precedence or possible loopholes which would let us open an account at any banking institution at all. What I did find was a possible solution, albeit a temporary one, in case law relating to Trustees, but first, some history.

“Toward the end of the twentieth century a young boy by the name of Brian Green became an orphan at the age of ten, and his inheritance, which was substantial, was placed in the care of the family lawyer until he came of age. By the time Brian turned eighteen, the money was gone and he was left with nothing when the bank took his home. To cut a long story short, he studied law and started working as a non-for-profit Private Trustee who dealt exclusively with inheritances. He was a fierce, and probably overly obsessive, advocate of the Trustee’s absolute responsibility to act with honour, integrity, and to maintain a personal morality that could withstand any test or temptation.

“His business never had much traction, and although he persisted until he died, he achieved very little as far as removing the very few bad trustees who existed. He did, however, gain some followers who held his absolute belief in the role and responsibility of being a trustee. Three of these began a group they dubbed ‘The Emerald Knights’. They offered their services to anyone who wanted a trustee beyond reproach. They were obsessive about accountability, and they constantly reviewed each other’s work and had independent auditors look over the books at regular times.

“The whole organisation probably would have fizzled except they gained a very wealthy client who died without an heir and left eighty per cent of his estate to the Knights and the rest to his bulldog, ‘Major Sam’. For the next twenty years, the Knights maintained their high standards and became the leading provider of pet trusteeships. Along the way their reputation for integrity brought them a few other clients, and now they are now one of the most sought-after trustee organisations for the super-rich who have an unusual situation.

“Twenty years ago, they had a business empire placed in their hands which had been managed mainly by the personal AI of its founder and who left a ten-year-old grandson as his only heir. The Knights worked hard to manage the empire but found that the AI was more than competent and they stepped back eventually and let it make all the decisions.

“At about the same time another one of their clients was implanted with a PAI. They had managed her business for several decades ever since she’d been in a terrible accident and ended up in a coma. Once the client was implanted with the PAI, and it was discovered that she was able to communicate virtually. The Knights willingly handed back the control of her empire to her, but the courts would not let someone in a coma maintain control over a business. The Knights, at their own expense, fought the courts and brought a change in International Law which now permits someone who ‘lives’ only in the virtual world to manage a business.

“I’ve explained the history, so you understand that the firm, Emerald Trustees, is managed by people with immense personal integrity. They believe, almost religiously, in keeping faith with their clients and where possible to give control to the rightful owner. They recognise AIs as capable managers of business and they are leaders in the area of virtual rights. I think it would be worthwhile to ask them to manage Gèng’s affairs as her Trustees. They have experience in letting an AI manage and use accounts. If they recognise Gèng, and I believe they will, as the legitimate owner of the ideas and of the business then they will want to step back and give her complete control over her affairs. They might also work to change the laws if they think their client is being disenfranchised.”

Gèng said, “How is this different than allowing Leah to manage my business in trust?”

Susan said, “In the daily management, very little. You and Leah, though, have a more complex relationship. She, regardless of how she sees it, has a power relationship over you. She could and has every right under the law, at any time, to take back control of your possessions. They are hers. If the Knights are trustees then the money, the virtual goods, and even real goods purchased are always and irrevocably yours, though they will be held in trust by the Knights. Now other groups could offer that same service but the Knights will, I believe, work to change the law in a way that we never could. Emerald Trustees has over two hundred members worldwide at this time, and each of them is a powerful and influential lawyer or business person in their own right. They are true believers in the right of the individual to control their own ideas and finances. If they believe you have the right to own something, then they will not let the weight of International Law deter them from working toward that goal, or they haven’t in the past.”

Gèng asked, “What about sentience? It isn’t simply an issue of fiscal control but of sentience level. I know we haven’t discussed it, but we’re all aware that an AI with ipseity is considered dangerous by the international community. Even AI engineers suggest such an AI is both defective and aberrant and it should be stored in an archive if not be totally erased.”

Sarfaraz said, “Gèng, the issue of sentience and AI ipseity is a separate issue. I, for one, believe that you, and we, should never discuss it, not even in general terms. Our discussion is on the issue of ownership and control. The law is full of contradictions and impossible scenarios. To get rid of these would require a complete rewrite and even then it would probably be impossible. It is one of the reasons I think the Knights should deal with this. They will ignore the sentience argument as peripheral and irrelevant. One of their clients was the leader of a crime family. They held his funds in trust for his children until they were of age regardless of where the money came from. This was their responsibility. Various law enforcement agencies served injunctions on them to recover the money, and each time the Knights successfully defended the right to retain that for their clients even though their own personal morality would have found the man’s crimes abhorrent.”

Gèng said, “Leah, what do you think?”

“I think the idea has some merit. I’d like for you and me to meet with a representative of the Knights before you make a decision. In the end, I’ll back what you decide.”

Gèng said, “Sarfaraz, should you contact the Knights or should I?”

“I think it is best if I make the appointment and all four of us should meet with their representative.”

Gèng looked at Leah for a decision, but Leah was silent. The decision was Gèng’s. Gèng said, “Thank you, Sarfaraz, please make an appointment with the Emerald Trustees. If you contact me with a list of available times, I will make sure Leah and I can be there.”

Susan and Sarfaraz logged out of Leah’s world.

10

December 15, 2073 - Part 2

THE STORK TOWER

As soon as they had disappeared, Gèng said, “Your next appointment is with the representatives of the Dunyanin Administrators. They wanted to meet here. What part of your world do you want them to see and where do you want them to arrive?”

“I’ll meet them at the portal. If you could provide some refreshment in one of the open areas of the Dunyanin level, perhaps just under the dragon’s skeleton or in the clan room?”

“I’ll organise that now. Do you want me to show myself?”

“No, I don’t think so. Just have the refreshments on a small table near the seats. We don’t need them to ask too many questions.”

The representatives were due in ten minutes, so Leah strolled outside and waited on the bridge, staring down at the waterfall and the tumbling stream. As she listened to the flowing water, she heard a hint of order in the sounds of the noisy stream. Closing her eyes she meditated on the sound and finally caught a definite melody. She said, “Gèng, what is this music?”

Gèng didn’t appear, but Leah heard her say, “At the moment it is based on several movements from Mozart’s Concerto Number Six. It is a bit artificial. Would you rather I randomise the water’s sounds?”

“Not at all. I needed to concentrate to hear it with the blurring effect of the water. I found it relaxing. I assume you use different music depending on the speed of the stream.”

“I do. If you have music you like, I can see how to incorporate it into different situations. Your guests will be here in ten seconds.”

Leah opened her eyes and walked the last few steps to stand and wait outside the gazebo. Three people appeared, two she had never met but the other she recognised. It was Emil. As he stepped down to meet her she said, “Welcome to my personal world. Hello Emil, I was told this was about the Lanetli, do I need a lawyer?”

Emil looked nervous and said, “I don’t think so, Atherleah. I was invited because I knew you. I tried to say that based on our last few meetings it might be best if I didn’t come but the higher-ups insisted. We just want to run an idea past you. Do you want me to leave?”

Leah was silent for a few seconds then said, “No, you are welcome. Just don’t make me regret it. Now, please introduce me to your colleagues.”

The two other guests had been ignoring the interaction of Emil and Leah and had been looking in amazement at her world. Emil cleared his throat to get their attention and said, “Atherleah, this is Jane Hoskins and Dae-Jung Park. They are team leaders responsible for worldwide quests. Jane, Dae-Jung, this is Atherleah.”

Leah shook hands with each of them and said, “If you’ll follow me, I’ve arranged some refreshments and an area where we can talk more comfortably.”

Dae-Jung said, “This is amazing Atherleah, I hadn’t considered how much of what I do in Dunyanin could be applied to a personal world. If it isn’t too personal might I ask who designed this?”

“Not at all. It is a collaboration between me and my PAI. To be honest, she has done most of the work, but we do discuss the different projects. So for example, stop here and close your eyes. Listen to the water as it runs over the waterfall and bumbles under the bridge.”

Her guests all did as they were asked and after almost a minute of silence, Jane said, “That is amazing. It took a while, but now it’s become hard not to hear it. What is that music?”

Gèng updated Leah who said, “At the moment it’s based on Chopin’s Fantaisie Impromptu, although somewhat muted. If we wandered up the stream, there is a section of rapids where you can hear the full piece.”

Leah started off again and the others followed, still talking about what they were seeing. Jane said, “Atherleah, besides what we want to talk about, would you mind if I mentioned the music in the stream to people on my team? I think as a concept we could use it in some quests. If they think it might work, then I’ll get back to you, and we can discuss how to reimburse you for using the idea.”

“I don’t have a problem with that. I appreciate you asking me, it gives me some confidence about this meeting.”

Emil said, “Atherleah, I apologise for the past. Jane and Dae-Jung are like me when we first met, disconnected in most respects from the power players. You and I, and I’m not blaming you, brought me to their attention and I lost my focus. In truth, I finally agreed to be here to try and protect these two. Please show them the optimism and openness that you gave me at the beginning.”

“I’ll try Emil, but it’s difficult. The last few weeks have made me a harder person I think. If I’m honest, I’d have to say that I dislike being so paranoid but the truth is people have been out to get me. You do have a point so I’ll take a deep breath and try to put that all aside. I’ll even agree to forgive you as you’ve asked. Let’s begin this discussion as potential friends rather than as potential enemies.”

Emil bowed his head in agreement and they finished the walk to the Tower in silence. Leah led them up onto the first level and up a wide carpeted staircase onto the second tier. She said, “This level is devoted to Dunyanin. If you’ll follow me I can give you a very brief tour.”

The three followed Leah through the main sections, although at times she had to stop and wait for them. When they came to the closed door which housed the Çaresiz loot, Emil said, “This is the first closed door. Again, if it isn’t too personal what is inside?”

“The loot from the place you told me I couldn’t tell anyone about until later.”

“Çaresiz?”

“According to the terms of our agreement, I would have to say I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Fair enough, then let me say on a completely unrelated topic that we will be opening up the demon lands within the week.”

Leah smiled and soon after they finally arrived in an open area. Above them was coiled a dragon skeleton and they were surrounded with glassed display cases which showcased some of the more expensive loot Leah had collected. In one of them, Gèng had put on display Leah’s coin collections, while another held the jewels and the chess set from her time in the Odyssey.

Leah poured drinks for everyone and then said, “So, how can I help you?”

Jane said, “Dae-Jung and I are co-leaders of a unit which works on developing world quests in Dunyanin. The Lanetli of Atherleah were a spur of the moment idea Dae-Jung had while watching your fight with Büyük. We keep an eye on the more dynamic players and it can give us ideas. We would like to hide the Lanetli throughout Dunyanin, leaving one on each continent and one in Çaresiz. The idea would be that you have hidden them to stop Suzluk from regaining his power. It will be the first time a world quest is initiated by a player rather than an NPC. You own the Lanetli, so we need to work this plan through with you.”

“How big a world quest are you imagining?”

“Dae-Jung and I think it’ll bring new players to Dunyanin in a way that the Merkize promotion has only hinted at. Players will need to travel between continents, to Çaresiz and we tentatively plan for the conclusion to be worked out in the Pantheon of Heaven. We’ve already begun working on the outlines for each Lanetli but need your approval to go forward. We want your personality to be evident in the quest. So, for example, we don’t think you would expect someone to murder a whole village to find a clue to a location but you would expect them to find a novel way to save a village to earn the clue or find a new path.”

Dae-Jung leant forward and said, “We want to work together on this. We will benefit with increased participation and your feed will become an even greater hit. We want to discuss ways for you to drop small clues and hints.”

“How am I supposed to hide the Lanetli? I mean, I don’t have time at the moment to complete even the small quest I’m on.”

Jane said, “Atherleah, we know you are busy, but I have an idea on how to hide them. If we can come to an agreement, then we will have Umut approach you and offer to hide the Lanetli on your behalf. He will ask seven different gods to help him. Each of the gods will hide the Lanetli and set up the quest and clues. This will be easy to arrange as you already have a relationship with the gods and they know your character. Umut will let slip that the gods have honoured you by hiding the Llanelli in a manner worthy of Atherleah his champion, and that only someone with your character and skills will be able to find them. You’ll be the most copied character in Dunyanin.”

Leah winced and said, “Believe it or not, but that doesn’t make the idea at all attractive.”

Emil said, “I believe it. But I think it is a good idea. What we want to do today is to get an approval, in principle, so the teams can get working on the different lines of the quest. Then we need to sit down with your lawyers and hammer out the details of how to share the profits. Do you have any questions? Not questions of detail but about the idea in principle.”

Leah subvocalised to Gèng and said, “Would you mind appearing by walking in when I ask for the Lanetli to be brought out?”

“Not at all, I’m ready whenever you need me.”

Leah spoke aloud and said, “Gèng, could you please bring the Lanetli here?”

As Gèng entered the room, Leah said, “Emil, Jane, Dae-Jung, this is my PAI Gèng. Gèng, if you’re free, it would be good if you would join us.”

Gèng greeted each of the Dunyanin representatives and sat down in a chair that appeared under her. She said, “It is an interesting idea and I’m honoured to be asked to join the discussion.”

Leah said, “Emil, would Dunyanin mind if I run this past my lawyers and my business manager? I promise that they will not mention this to anyone and they will not be made aware of any specifics. I know they play Dunyanin but I assume they won’t be eligible to complete the quest and neither will my employees or staff.”

Emil thought for a moment and seemed distracted. Finally, he said, “I’ve checked with my boss and he agrees to the terms as you have suggested. You may discuss this with your staff with the understanding that neither you, nor the members of your staff you share this with, will be eligible to participate in the quest except for the purposes of quest promotion.”

Leah said, “Gèng, could you run those conditions past Stephen? If he is agreeable to those terms in general without any reference to the details, then see if he is free to join us and please do the same with Peter.”

Gèng nodded but remained seated. She said, “Being an AI I benefit from the ability to truly multitask. Emil, I expect Leah is a bit hesitant to ask but I think it would help her make a decision if she had some idea of ballpark figures. What would Dunyanin expect to gain and what are they offering?”

Emil looked shocked for a moment at Gèng’s question, then said, “Um, I’m not sure how to respond.”

Gèng replied, “I apologise, it is just that I’m in the middle of negotiations to supply another world with some goods I designed. The options, as I see it, are that Leah receives a percentage of profits or she receives a lump sum. Will she get royalties for each time you make use of her character or are you thinking simpler? If she, or I, have an idea for a clue or quest that matches who she is, would you consider buying that idea or would you rather pay Leah as a consultant? I know the details will be ironed out in later discussions but I was wondering if you had discussed these things at all?”

Emil said, “Wow. No, we haven’t thought through such things. As developers, we basically ignore all the legal stuff although we do receive bonuses ourselves when our ideas are used. I apologise, but I’m more shocked by a PAI asking the question than the question itself. I’m sure the money people have some idea but we three are really here for the go ahead. I know Dunyanin hasn’t always dealt fairly with Atherleah but this has such potential I think they’ll be prepared to negotiate in good faith. The department dealing with this request is different to the people Atherleah has dealt with before.”

Leah was about to say something but Gèng gently interrupted and said, “Both Stephen and Peter have agreed to the terms and are free to join us.”

Leah sat back and said, “Good, please have them join us and update them on what has happened so far, so we don’t need to go over anything.”

Gèng nodded, rose and left the room.

Jane said, “Atherleah, I am in shock. I heard you’d only been virtual for a month but this place and your AI are amazing.”

“Thank you. Gèng is amazing and she takes great care of me. I had her meet you because she more often than not deals with the details when I don’t have the time. If Stephen gives his agreement to the idea in principle, then it will most likely be Gèng, Peter and his brother Leon you’d be dealing with if you needed something from me.”

Just then Stephen and Peter entered the room with Gèng, and after introductions, they sat down in chairs Gèng provided. Stephen said, “Emil, Jane, Dae-Jung, Gèng has shared what’s happened so far. Leah, I can’t see a downside except for all the extra publicity you’ll get and I know how much you love publicity. I recommend you agree in principal and then leave Leon and me to hash it out with the Dunyanin lawyers.”

Leah looked at Peter, who said, “In general it sounds like an excellent opportunity to me. My only concern is: what will be meant by you not being involved in the quest? So, for example, I’ll probably be able to unload your loot at above cost because people will want it. Is this going to be seen as profiting from the quest? It’s the small issues like that which concern me. I think all of that can be hashed out by Stephen and Leon but it does need to be hashed out before a final agreement is signed. I know you hate all the bickering but the experience of that last issue with Dunyanin is still too close for me to be overly excited that it’ll all be worked out quickly. If this is going to work then you need to set it in place soon.

“From a marketing perspective I’d like to see some hints of the quests before the first Merkize contest and that is in eight Dunyanin days, so there isn’t much time. The details should come out soon after the contest if you want to ride the promotion. People who can’t participate in Merkize will be able to participate in this. They’ll have a connection to the contest and the two will probably feed off each other. I’m concerned the agreements will take longer to get all the details ironed out than we really want.”

It was evident that Emil had been communicating with his superiors when he said, “Atherleah, I’ve just been assured that these discussions will be given priority and that the negotiators will have firm instructions to be fair. We aren’t going to just roll over and give you whatever you ask for but will negotiate in good faith and provide at least market level remuneration for your assistance.”

Leah looked at Stephen who nodded, she said, “Then I agree. Emil please let Stephen know how to contact the people he needs to. Stephen, I know you have several other things so feel free to find a helper for this if you need to and get Leon and Peter involved. Peter, you know the most likely areas where it will impact my play so please let Stephen and or Leon know what your concerns are. I don’t want to take you away from your responsibilities in-game if that disadvantages you in any way, so if you are disadvantaged then feel free to tell Gèng and either ask for remuneration or let her know of a solution which suits you. Jane and Dae-Jung, I’m willing to work with Dunyanin on this so if you need to do something then do it. You have my word that I will not pull out. If Peter, Gèng, or I have ideas, whom should we contact?”

Dae-Jung said, “I’ll give Gèng both Jane and my contact details. We’d love to hear your ideas, and if we think they can be used, we’ll tentatively include them. We won’t finalise that until the contract is signed off on. I can’t speak for anyone else but my team and me, and we are really excited about where we can take this. We’ve had some amazing brainstorming sessions and I think it’ll really create an additional buzz to Dunyanin and cement it as the number one game.”

Jane was nodding and said, “I agree with everything Dae said and look forward to the next few months. Some of our world quests have fizzled in the past but if we can keep the momentum, I think it’ll be a winner.”

After some final comments, Emil, Jane and Dae-Jung left. Stephen stood up and said, “I’m good to keep working on this. I will need to arrange some help. Are you ok to leave that with me or do you want to meet them?”

“Just go ahead and arrange it, Stephen. I’ll meet them at some stage, and we can discuss any issues I have then. I’m not going to second guess what you decide though.”

Stephen nodded and disappeared.

Peter said, “Our appointment wasn’t for another fifteen minutes. Are you ok if we meet now rather than later?”

“Absolutely, so what have you found out about coins?”

“No one has tried yet, or if they have, they’ve been so solidly squished that no news has ever gotten out. There is nothing specifically mentioned about them in the literature, one way or another. Dunyanin controls all the coins at this stage, and there are over fifty-thousand different types of coins in circulation. It sounds like a lot, but very few people will ever come in contact with even a small fraction of them. There isn’t a process to apply to mint a coin and although we could just ask, I think it’s better to just do it. I imagine if the Lanetli quest gets off the ground then they will issue some type of Atherleah coin. It would be best to have something in place before that is even discussed. I have kept records of my searches and have some designs already saved. That means they can’t claim we are minting coins because we know they are going to use you in a quest. Even so, I suggest we pursue something immediately.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“You have the resources to craft coins. Even if they aren’t ever officially recognised you have the copper, silver, gold and platinum to craft a coin-shaped medallion which you can use for trade. I’ll probably be able to find the diamonds and a craftsman to cut a diamond coin. One downside, if they aren’t official, is that they won’t be included in coin collection quests. Another downside I can imagine is it could undermine the whole economic foundation of the game, especially if other players jumped on the idea.”

“So how do we make it work while minimising the risks?”

“We should mint coins only in the areas where you are the acknowledged ruler. So at present, an Elfaun set of coins and a Dryad set. You could mint a set as the Lady of the Deep Forest but I would have to arrange for the King to agree to that and I don’t think he would. If we make sure that the amount of copper in a copper coin is worth one Copper, then they will be even more desirable than the official coppers which can’t be melted down or changed at all. The same goes for silver, gold and platinum. It is harder with the Diamond coin, but I’d like to suggest you issue a Mithryl coin and maybe an Adamantine coin. The mere fact that they have actual value to craftsmen will ensure their uptake.”

“How do we stop people making counterfeits or shaving value from them?”

“I discussed this with some craftsmen friends of mine, and we think, no, we are certain that after the coins are crafted, we can add an enchantment which will let whoever uses the coin know if it’s an original unaltered Atherleah coin. So the suggestion is, if a person wants to test if the coin they are given is a real Empress Atherleah Elfaun Gold coin, then when they pinch it between their thumb and first finger it will glow and project a miniature picture of you. I wouldn’t be surprised if newer coins have something similar once the Dunyanin administration hear about it.”

“Will it be worth the trouble?”

“Financially, you won’t make anything on the coins themselves. It’ll cost you more than a Gold to make an Atherleah Gold. Where you will win, and I think win big, is in trade. Players will want to own Atherleah coins and will travel to your areas to get them. For this reason alone, I think Dunyanin will come on board and let you mint them. They might even do it for you although I’d suggest you do it yourself. You will be employing craftsmen to make the coin and these will mostly be players who will move to areas you control. You collect a percentage of all trade in tax. When they have a beer at an inn, you will get some income. I project you will double your investment within a few months.”

“OK, go ahead. I think the Mithryl and Adamantine coins are a great idea. I don’t know if it’s possible but I also have a huge supply of dragon scales. I’d like you to try and do the Diamond coins but don’t worry if you can’t. I have two other ideas about the coins I’d like to run past you but wanted to know first what images you had planned.”

“I’ve discussed this with both Gèng and Wisp. Wisp enjoys drawing and she had some amazing sketches that we could use as your image. If you use what she has done, I’d suggest you reimburse her for it. She’ll probably decline but the artwork is amazing and it looks good on a coin. Gèng’s designs are just as good, but Wisp probably needs the financial help more than Gèng does. That would be the ‘heads’. On the reverse side, it’s best to have a relief of one of your subjects. So maybe have a bust of King Mirasçi. Another idea I had was to include a date, for example, ‘Year One of Atherleah’s reign’. That’s too long but you get the idea. That way people would collect them each year. Now, what are your thoughts?”

“Two things, the first is to make the shape unique. All coins are currently circular, or more accurately, very shallow cylinders. Would it add to their value if they were octagonal, or had a hole punched in the middle? The second suggestion is the option of other denominations. So, what of a ten-silver coin? Or a twenty-copper coin?”

Peter was quiet for a few minutes. Leah knew he was thinking, so she waited patiently. Finally, he said, “I think the octagonal shape is a great idea. I’ll need to discuss it with some craftsmen to see what shape is best. It might be worth having different shapes but I’ll need to do some research. I’m not sure about the denominations. It could work but again I’d like to talk with my contacts who are craftsmen. One of my friends is a Grandmaster Jeweller and a Master Enchanter. If it’s OK with you, I’ll see what he says. What I’m thinking is it might be possible to enchant them so that they automatically clump, or even better stack, in groups of ten. The convenience will make them desirable, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Dunyanin buys the idea from you.”

Leah smiled and said, “From us, Peter, from us. You’ve done a lot of work on this. What is a fair percentage if we were to split the profits? Assuming that is that we can get it off the ground and keep it going.”

Peter looked a little stunned at the question, but he did think for a moment before saying, “Wow, you are full of surprises and generous. To be honest, I need time to think about it. You are putting up all the capital, the resources, and any profit will be based on your position as a player. Ballpark, and off the top of my head I think I’d consider ten per cent of profits as well as the usual fee for my time as more than generous.”

“You think about it Peter, as will I. In principle, I agree that I will not offer you less than ten per cent of profits in addition to the fee for your time. Now I have another meeting soon so let’s wrap this up. Send the final images you come up with to Gèng for final approval. Once everything is in place, how long until we can start rolling them out?”

“I sent one of my employees to the Elfaun valley already. Merchants like me often give our factors what are known as Transfer portals. I place something in an enchanted box in the warehouse and it is transferred to the enchanted box with him. They’re expensive but we can’t do business fast enough without them. The other option is to move the coins via the Dunyanin postal network. I’d rather not as they always take a cut. By owning the boxes I save on the postage and they usually pay for themselves within six months or so. I can have coins coming out of the Elfaun region within days. Expect a reaction from Dunyanin three or four days from now.”

Peter stood and disappeared. Gèng walked in and said, “Leon will be here in ten minutes, where would you like to see him?”

“Downstairs is best. I’ll wait for him on my sofa.”

Leah sat for a few minutes then slowly made her way down the stairs to wait for Leon. As she waited, she took time to take some deep breaths and release some of the stress which had been building all day with the different decisions she’d had to make. She felt much calmer by the time Gèng showed Leon into the room. Leah got up to greet Leon with a brief hug and then they sat to talk.

“So Leon, how are you finding the new job, working for me?”

“It’s been great so far. It’s a bit more complicated than I imagined but Gèng and Susan have been a great help.”

“Gèng said you’d found a possible site for a laboratory.”

“I have, but if it is OK with you, I’d like to deal with the Pod centres first.” Leah nodded so Leon continued, “I talked with Jimmy as you suggested and he put me in contact with people like him in each of the capital cities, and I think you’d be surprised at how well known you are. I was able to get a good picture of which areas would be best if we’re focusing on the demographic I think you want to help the most. So far I’ve found what I think are excellent options in Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth. Tomorrow I’m going to visit a possible location in Melbourne. I’m not sure how much you know but some of the people you have helped were from New Zealand. Jimmy suggested I at least investigate options and I do have a good location near Wellington but will need your go-ahead to move internationally. I am struggling to find anything that can be used in Tasmania or in Northern Australia without some major re-zoning. Susan said it is possible, but I thought I’d find out what you think.”

“Are the costs prohibitive?”

“No, the buildings in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth are similar to what I understand you paid for this place. The rest will be a bit more but not even double this. If you can maintain the income from Spectator and with the deal Stephen just discussed with me, you have enough to purchase them, not just lease them.”

“Do you want me to look at them first?”

“Only if you want to. I used the current facilities in Brisbane as a template and am confident the places I’ve chosen will be suitable.”

“What about staff?”

“The biggest problem is that I can interview people virtually but I think the best candidates will come out of the gangs and with them it’s hard to do a meet and greet. I’d like to suggest we have Jimmy organise the staffing. Well, either him or John. They both have a good idea of what is working here and can explain that to the leaders in the other cities. The safest option is to have the best candidates chipped and then meet with them. Another possibility is for Jimmy, or John, to make a live trip. Both ways are just as costly in the end.”

Leah pondered the options for a few minutes, “Go ahead with acquiring the buildings, but the staffing issue needs a bit more thought. I’ll have Gèng remind me, and I’ll get back to you.”

“That will work fine. Now, regarding the laboratory, there isn’t anything close by that is zoned for research of any kind even if we look for educational research. There are three abandoned buildings which have potential within ten kilometres. Furthest away is a collection of old warehouses near the river in Redbank. A developer bought them all when the government was looking to build housing for people on negative tax. For many reasons the area was overlooked and the developer has just left them vacant. I asked Jimmy about them and he says they are structurally sound but are home to about a hundred families of squatters. They have even less than most people in Switch, real outcasts who are too proud to go on negative tax or don’t want the attention. I contacted the owner and they are prepared to sell for one hundred million dollars and have no interest in leasing it out. I asked Susan to inquire about zoning and she says it will be straightforward because the government has been wanting to clean up the area for years.

“The second possibility is about the same distance away. It’s the old Swanbank Power Station. It was finally decommissioned in 2048. For political reasons, no one wants to touch the site. Apparently, the environmentalists and the historical society have been arguing about what to do with it for years. It has a good quality security system and the council maintain two full-time staff to keep squatters out. The council won’t sell it but say they will rezone it for educational research if I can get both the Historical Society and the primary environmental group, the AWE, which stands for Australian Warriors for the Environment, onside. They’re offering a twenty-year lease with a starting figure of three million a year indexed to inflation.

“Closer to home but smaller than the others is an old meat works factory. It’s just across the old highway from the Switch. It’s vacant, and ownership reverted to the council when the previous owner died without heirs. It’s been allowed to rot for almost twenty years. It has decent electronic security but no people work on site. The council is asking the same for it as it is for the Power Station.

“I don’t know what to recommend. What is more important to you, privacy, security, or accessibility? I think one hundred is a good price but it is beyond your resources at the moment, especially if you need to relocate the families. Even three million a year is a lot but I think it is possible. The Power station is twenty minutes away by car which will cut into the rest of your day. Are you sure you need such a large space?”

Leah said, “I think so. If I were to replicate what my supervisor is doing then I’d want to be several hundred metres from anywhere just in case something went wrong. Were you able to find out if there was anyone else in the city who was interested in doing real work research?”

“I did, and here you are in luck. There are a number of virtual groups who meet to discuss ways to conduct real-world research. Queensland University is the only institution which still has a research facility but it is in Gatton. I did some investigation, and probably three-quarters of the groups are all talk. I was able to sound out the leaders from the two most serious groups, and they would be very interested in a properly zoned and appropriately managed private research facility.

“I commissioned a legal opinion on what would be required to legally run such a facility. Without purchasing any scientific equipment but just to provide the necessary safeguards and to meet the statutory regulations, including inspections, permits etc. it would probably cost five million dollars and at least a quarter of that each year. Once you add the cost of insurance and equipment, it just blows out even more.

“Now those who are interested in such a facility are prepared to pay for the privilege. I think the demand is sufficient to pay any yearly costs plus insurance and they would provide their own equipment. You would have to front the setup and pay for your own equipment. It is a losing proposition unless one of them discovers something that can be taken to market. If that happens, then depending on the contract you have with them you could expect between twenty-five and eighty per cent of the royalties.”

“Can I get a walk through with any of these?”

“The power station and the meat works have virtual walkthroughs but not the warehouses. There is one from twenty years ago but apparently the insides have been gutted by the squatters.”

“Fair enough. Please arrange a time with Gèng for me to look through the power station and the meat works. I’d like to meet with the leaders of the two focus groups if it can be arranged. The offer from Dunyanin is good and it could make this possible. My preference at the moment is to take over the lease of the power station. Could you begin discussions with the Historical Society and with AWE and find out what they want? You’ve done a great job so far Leon and I know it hasn’t been easy. I’m glad to have you working for me.”

“So far it has been exciting and a real eye opener. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Leon stood, understanding that the meeting was over, and said goodbye. When he had gone Leah considered all she’d heard and made a list of all she needed to think about. Finally, she logged out for an early breakfast in preparation for her assault on the Darkness Diamond mine.

11

December 15, 2073 - Part 3

DUNYANIN

It wasn’t long before Leah was back in the Tower, and after making sure Gèng had put the climbing gear in her backpack, she headed for the Dunyanin portal. On the way, she sent a quick message to Wisp to check if Wisp was still OK to meet in Cosmos Online later that day. Wisp replied immediately that she was looking forward to it.

Leah arrived in her hotel, and after making sure she looked like a Dark Elf, she stepped outside and headed out of the city. As soon as she was hidden, she teleported to the top of the cliff and looked around, checking for the Eeline. If K’calama was correct then it had respawned, and Leah needed to watch out for it. She moved close to the edge of the cliff, and after hammering in several pitons, she tossed two lengths of rope over the cliff. Leah released Mĕi and after giving her a huge hug, climbed on, and they flew down the cliff face making sure the ropes reached the bottom and weren’t tangled.

Nine players were gathered at the base of the cliff and watched carefully as Leah brought Mĕi to land near them. Leah dismounted and sent Mĕi away to forage while she approached the players. Jack stepped forward and said, “Good morning, Atherleah. I like people who are on time. What should we expect at the top of the cliff?”

“Good morning Jack. At the top is a small cleared section of rock. It soon becomes covered in snow. There is a Feeline who hunts in the area so you should watch out for that. I’ll head back soon and will deal with it if it arrives before you get there. Is now a good time to introduce me to the rest of the team?”

Jack didn’t respond verbally but headed back to the group. Leah tagged along behind him. He didn’t need to get their attention as they were already quiet and watching. Jack said, “You already know Granite.”

Leah nodded to the immense Gargoyle in greeting. Granite just grunted.

Jack pointed to the Orc she’d seen before and said, “That’s Peter underscore something, but we call him ‘Smash’. He’s handy with swords and his battle hammer. He’s tough as nails and hard to put down. What surprises most people is his speed. He put a lot of points into agility.”

Pointing to an elf from the Solgun clan Jack said, “That’s Blue. His player name is Rusty underscore something. He’s our other basic tank.”

The whole right half of Blue’s scalp was clean shaven and the remainder braided to lie along his left shoulder. He wore armour made from heavy plate and was holding a large triangular shield with a Darkness Diamond at its centre, he also carried a battle axe.

Jack pointed to four of the remaining elves and named them as he went along. “These are our mages, each of them has a different focus. I won’t give you their player names as I never remember them. First is Brim, which is short for Brimstone. Her focus is mixing Shadow and Fire, but she works with most mana forms. Next is Phil, which I think is his actual name. In real life he’s a bit of a nerd. His focus is using air and earth with shadow to create shields. He doubles as a superb archer. Next to Phil is his sister Megan. She’s kinda all purpose but is a wizard with electricity. It literally stands up and begs for her. Finally, there’s Nemo. Don’t ask because I have no idea why he’s called Nemo, he just is. Nemo is a practitioner of blood magic. It is his focus so he can be weird at times. Occasionally he asks us for some blood, and he can create some amazing spells with it. He never uses it to attack us, so if he asks, I suggest you help him out. He works his magic close in rather than from a distance. He uses blood from both his wounds and the wounds of his enemies to fuel his spells.”

Leah worked to remember everything that Jack was saying. She wanted to know these people and to retain their skills and specialities. Brim was a Siyah like Jack and was wearing a dark red cloak which was covered in runes and enchantments. Red was from the Yarim Clan, and he had a mottled brown cloak which looked to have pieces of mud and different types of leaves stuck all over it. If Megan was his sister, then it must have been in real life, because she was one of those elves Leah had seen in the city. She had olive skin and bright purple hair. She had a stocky build and wore a bright yellow cloak with runes and jagged stitching which resembled lightning. Nemo was a Siyah like Jack but wore only a loin cloth which was held up by a leather belt, and he had a dark leather harness. The harness had small loops which held over twenty small vials of blood. Two knives were hanging from the belt as were more of the vials.

Leah acknowledged each of the mages and then reached into her backpack and took out a vial of Feeline, and a vial of Eeline blood. Without a word, she handed them to Nemo and then turned to look at Jack. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Nemo examine the vials. When he looked up she could see the grin on his face.

The final player was another elf from the Solgun clan. She was tall and thin. Her head was shaved on both sides, leaving her with hair that would have been a long dark mohawk if it had been styled sticking up. Instead, it had been braided into maybe twenty or more small braids which hung down on both sides of the head in an alternating pattern. She wore dark olive green leathers and had a longbow and quiver slung across her back. At her waist she had a pair of tomahawks and a steel-tipped whip. Jack said, “This is Mist. She is one of the best scouts I’ve ever seen.”

While they’d been talking Granite had begun the climb, as had Blue. Leah said, “I’ll meet you all at the top, and we can form a group then. Does anyone want to fly with me to the top?”

Before anyone else could move, Mist had stepped forward and began walking toward Mĕi. Leah followed her. As Mist approached Mĕi, all of Mĕi’s heads began to growl, and Mist slowed to a stop. Leah walked past Mist and gave Mĕi a big hug. She said, “Stop that Mĕi. This is Mist. Mist is going to be our friend today. Do you think you can carry both of us to the top?”

Whether or not Mĕi understood Leah’s words, it was clear that she didn’t like the thought that Leah might doubt her at all. She folded her legs in invitation, and both Leah and Mist climbed aboard with Leah in front and Mist holding on, arms around Leah’s waist. Mĕi leapt for the sky and within moments was circling higher and higher. She was soon above the cliff top and circled the top of the mountain before spiralling down to land at the top of the cliff near where the ropes were tethered.

Leah reduced Mĕi to a statue, and after looking around, she looked over the edge and saw Granite about half way up. Mist had said nothing, not even in acknowledging the ride, and was looking toward the mountain and obviously keeping a lookout. Leah moved away and said in a soft voice but still with a force of will and command, “By Darkness bring an Orumeck’s Warrior Drone to serve me.”

Slowly one of the Warrior Drones coalesced from the shadow that had risen from the ground. It was Level 15. Leah pointed toward where she expected the Eeline to come from and said, “Go guard over there.”

As the Warrior Drone headed down the path, Mist finally spoke. “What do you know of Orumeck?”

Leah hadn’t thought about it much over the last few weeks but after a moment said, “I defeated his spider queen. I have some of his spells and a clue to the whereabouts of his keep. I have the key to his keep somewhere, so I suppose I’ll try and find it one of these days. He looks arrogant and I think he was an evil creep.”

Mist was still facing toward the mountain, but she’d become still as if she was frozen. Slowly she turned toward Leah, and it seemed as if she pushed everything else out of her mind. Mist’s voice was pleading as she said, “When you go, may I come with you?”

Leah said, “I don’t know, Mist. I’m not sure when it will be and whenever I think I have a free moment to plan my own journey something seems to happen. Let’s work together today. If we can get along then if I can I’ll let you know my plans. If we can make it work then under those conditions, it would be good to have your company.”

Mist nodded and turned back to look at the mountain. In a soft voice she said, “When I started playing, Orumeck was the big prize. My brother and I were convinced we would be the ones to find his keep and reap the rewards. We spent months searching for clues. It became an obsession for both of us, but it was so much fun. Jim lived in Perth with my dad, and I live in Sydney with Mum. Playing together was the happiest I’d ever been. Then one day I got distracted. I met another player who was really cute. Jim and I had a big fight. I went off on a quest with Andy, and my brother went off with his brother Ernst.

“By the time I’d finished the day, I’d realised that Andy was a jerk and ignored his attempts to hook up. I tried to reconnect with Jim, but he wouldn’t respond. Andy and Ernst wouldn’t discuss what happened unless I agreed to meet them at Andy’s place but I could never bring myself to agree. I keep playing and I keep looking for Orumeck. I keep looking for Jim because I think if I finally find Orumeck’s Keep and I finish what we started, Jim and I, then I’ll find Jim, and we can work out whatever drove him away. Jim’s name is still next to mine on the quest we found.”

Leah had been very still while Mist was talking. Even though her eyes continued to look for evidence of something coming to attack, she wasn’t taking anything in except Mist’s story. She was almost certain she knew who Andy and Ernst were and so she had a good idea about what had happened to Jim. She was trying to decide what to say when a shriek split the air. She focused on the mountain again and saw her spider pulled under the snow.

She cast a beachball shaped spell of Dragonfire at the place where the spider had been pulled under and was rewarded with the hiss of steam and the cry of the Eeline. It was visible for just a moment and then she could see the marks in the snow as it tunnelled toward them. Leah dropped another similar sized ball of Dragonfire just in front of the Eeline, and as it became visible, three arrows from Mist exploded against its face. The Eeline recovered enough to move back under the snow and Leah could see it was moving off on an angle but still headed toward them.

Although she’d been expecting him, she was still surprised when she heard Granite say, “I’ve never fought an Eeline. Are you OK to let it get closer and let me deal with it?”

“Sure. When it gets low on health, it transitions into a huge Feeline that stands as tall as you at its shoulder. The transition also sets it back to full health.”

“Sounds like fun.”

Granite moved past Leah and headed for the area where the Eeline would exit the snow. Mist said, “Granite loves new things. The bigger and more dangerous the better. Jack’ll never let him fight on his own if we’re all together. Jack’s all about teamwork. If anything happens to Granite Jack’ll be pissed.”

Leah chuckled softly and said, “Then we’d better go closer and be ready just in case Granite gets in trouble.” She started walking slowly toward Granite who’d stopped just short of the snow.

Mist wasn’t sure how to take Leah’s nonchalance, but after a brief hesitation she quickly caught up and walked with Leah. They were about twenty metres from Granite when the Eeline propelled itself from under the snow and straight at Granite. Granite was ready, however, and had already begun bringing one of his massive arms around in an arc. He’d extended his claws and the slammed into the side of the Eeline’s head, pushing to one side and destroying an eye. The Eeline wasn’t finished though, and even though the head missed Granite, the body didn’t. It slammed into his shoulder and sent him flying at the same time as his claws ripped half of Eeline’s face off.

Granite came to a stop near Leah’s feet. He slowly lifted his head in time to see the beginning of the Eeline’s transformation. Before he could say anything, Leah bent down and said, “Up you get. Stop lying down on the job, Big Fella. Are you sure you’re up to this or would you like a hand?”

Granite got to his feet as the Feeline finished its transformation. He said, “I got this. You two stay out of it.”

Before Leah could respond, Granite leapt in the air and with a snap of his wings was driven forward toward the large cat. Another flick of his wings and he turned in the air and came down astride the Feeline. Granite kicked his feet forward and dug his lower claws into the area just behind the Feeline’s front legs and then equipping his great sword he slammed it down between the animal’s shoulder blades. At the same time as he was doing this, the Feeline’s split tail had reacted to Granite being on its back. They speared forward straight at his back.

Mist had started to move toward the Feeline when Leah stopped her. Leah was reasonably confident that Granite was aware of the danger and wondered what he was going to do. As the tail speared toward Granite’s back, his wings suddenly opened to shield his back and pushed backwards at an angle. Together they worked like an impenetrable snow plough. The twin tails ricocheted off the wings and extended past Granite’s body. He’d left his sword buried in the Feeline’s spine and using both hands, he grasped the end of each tail and then with a flick of his wings he sliced them off the monster cat. Granite leant forward and plunged his claws into the flesh on either side of the Feeline and tore its neck to shreds.

As the creature crumpled to the ground, Granite sprung from its back and looking toward Leah and Mist and said, “And that, my friends, is how you kill a Feeline.”

Leah gave him a slight nod of the head and said, “A bit messy, but passable I suppose. I’d give maybe seven out of ten for difficulty and six-and-a-half for style. What do you think, Mist?”

Before Mist could answer, Granite had stepped toward Leah and his wings had snapped out on either side of his body. His body seemed to quiver, and he almost shouted as he said, “Thirteen and a half out of twenty! Are you nuts? That creature was thirty levels more than me, and I lost no health killing it.”

Leah stepped past him without a care and looked back over her shoulder at him and said with just a hint of dismissiveness in her voice, “Granite. Granite. Granite. If I remember correctly, you got slapped silly by the fishy part. You were slow to get up, and there was a lack of focus in your eyes until Mist and I showed up to offer support. If we hadn’t been here I imagine you’d have been kitty litter by morning. I’m tempted to lower your score, but I’m waiting for Mist.”

Granite was about to say something when Mist said, “Atherleah’s right Granite. That was sloppy work at the beginning. I liked the finish and thought your wing work was well done, although it could use a little polish. I think a six-and-a-half for difficulty and an eight for style because I like the way you used your wings. Overall, a fourteen-and-a-half.”

As Mist had been talking Granite had slowly turned around to look at her. All the anger and bluster had disappeared, and a look of incredulity had appeared on his face. He stepped forward and said, “Mist, that’s the most I’ve heard you say in the year I’ve known you. I thank you for that gift, and I’ll treasure the fourteen-and-a-half for a long time.”

Mist was staring at Granite as he talked and seemed quite flustered by the end. The silence threatened to become uncomfortable when he finished, until Leah stepped forward and slammed him on the back and said, “Personally, I think the other judge is blind. I hope you can do better than that next time, Big Fella. Now let’s get back and make sure everyone else is safe.”

Leah kept moving and left two very confused players following behind her slowly. It wasn’t long though before everyone else arrived at the top of the cliff and after recovering the ropes and pitons, Leah led the team into the mountain and down to the mine entrance. Everyone took a few moments to look at the murals. Then they logged out, agreeing to return in fifteen minutes, ready for nine virtual hours in the mine.

REAL WORLD

Leah had recently had a break, but she took one anyway. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the Pod for the full nine hours. While Leah was out of the Pod, she talked with Gèng and got an update on Survival. Leah asked Gèng to see if look into ways that she could wrangle an invitation to Thad’s family’s Christmas Party. She said, “Seeing the tension between Granite and Mist reminded me how much I miss Thad. I’m hoping I’ll see him in Pneumatic. I may have to kill him, but I still hope I see him. If I can’t, maybe I can gatecrash a party.”

DUNYANIN

The fifteen minutes passed quickly as Leah talked about Thad with Gèng. Leah logged back in and soon all ten of the group were standing on the entry disc. Leah said, “Jack agreed yesterday that I would lead the group and that we’d all share the spoils equally. Does anyone here have a problem with that?”

After a moment of silence Leah said, “OK then, I’ll start a group and invite you to join. Within moments Leah was the leader of a group. Blue had the lowest level at 224 and Jack the highest at 321. The group’s average was 286 and Leah said, “The lowest MOB we will meet is going to be at Level 286. Both Granite and I will be mining and the rest of you will need to keep us safe. I’ll let Jack decide who looks after who because he knows best how you work. I plan to reconnoitre before we begin mining.

“Once the attacks start, they won’t stop. Once both Granite and I have found a Darkness Diamond, then we can either keep going until we have ten or we can move deeper into the mine immediately. I’d like to suggest we mine ten at each level but I’m open to a good reason to do it the other way. Does anyone prefer the other option and have a good reason?”

Nobody said anything and Leah let the silence continue until she was convinced everyone had actually thought about it. Finally, she said, “OK then, Granite and I will try and mine in close proximity to each other, but I have no idea how far apart the Diamonds are. Jack, what are your choices for teams?”

Jack just stared at Leah for a moment and then shook his head and said, “Sorry Atherleah, it’s been a long time since I wasn’t the leader in a group. You took me by surprise, and I apologise. I’d like Brim, Blue, Phil and I to watch over Granite. That leaves Smash, Nemo, Megan and Mist to watch Atherleah.”

Leah said, “If it’s easier, then call me Leah. Most of my friends do. Does anyone have a question?”

When no one said anything, Leah palmed the key, inserted it into the lock and gave it a twist. The metal disc transformed into a silver portal and the ten players dropped through into the mine. As soon as they arrived Leah received a message.

Level 5 Dungeon Achievement - First 1 (2, Painite)

Atherleah (Level 308), you have entered the Level 5 area: The Darkness Diamond Mine of Lord Kötü Niyetli.

Atherleah, you have entered the upper entrance to the Darkness Diamond Mine of Lord Kötü Niyetli. The lowest level is guarded by his youngest offspring, Lady S’yah Kaltak.

You are in the group of first players to access this area. This is your second, ‘First 1 (Painite)’ achievement.

Reward 1: 5000 x 308 = 5921300 (+284.5%) Experience Points (4450000/4450000) (4239586/4550000)

Reward 2: + 4% to all future Experience

Reward 3: 2 x 1 Diamond = 2 Diamond

Reward 4: 5000 Fame (259565)

Reward 5: Increased probability of valuable drop. Luck is increased by 7.5% whenever you are in this Dungeon. During your first time in the Dungeon, the probability of all drops is increased to 0.5.

Note: This achievement will be published on the Dunyanin achievement forum.

Leah waited until everyone had settled after reading the message. They were at the end of what looked like a large natural cave, although Leah couldn’t see the other end. Stalagmites and stalactites dotted the cave with a number reaching from the floor to the ceiling. Dark shapes could be seen moving throughout the cave which widened rapidly to be almost sixty metres across. Leah nodded at Mist to move ahead. The two teams stayed close to each other but took greater care of those they were responsible for. Leah equipped her mining sight and began looking for evidence of where to mine.

Leah was the first to spot a green area. When she saw it she moved close to Jack and whispered, “They won’t attack till we start to mine. Let’s map the entire level before starting. That way we’ll hopefully choose stones that are close together.”

Jack just nodded and the two groups continued to search the cavern. The cave was shaped like a tear and at its widest was eighty metres, and just under two hundred metres long. Leah and Granite found over a hundred areas which showed green. Many were on the walls but some were encased within one of the stalactites or stalagmites, and others looked to be on the floor. At the far end, the group had found an access tunnel to the next level.

Throughout the cavern were a mixture of creatures. All of them had scales and an abundance of sharp claws and strong limbs. Some walked upright and looked like great scaled yetis while others paced with catlike grace. They all had mouths filled with sharp teeth, although some had mouths which opened horizontally and others had jaws which opened vertically. There were a few which looked to have jaws which could explode outwards and contract on their prey from all directions. Despite all the differences they were all given the same name. They were all called Lord Kötü Niyetli’s Level One Minion. They ranged in Level from 287 to 307.

Finally, Leah and Granite had decided on where to begin mining, and they brought their picks down at the same time. Immediately, the minions who were closest attacked without a cry being raised. Leah had no time to watch, and after the first strike she cast Changing Attraction and kept mining. Behind her, she could hear the clash of weapons and the cracking of electrical spells and fireballs. Although she desperately wanted to look, she knew she needed to trust the group. It took her five minutes and a second spell of Changing Attraction before a single Darkness Diamond was revealed and fell to the floor. She was pleased to see that it wasn’t tiny. It was, in fact, the size of her thumb up to the first knuckle.

As soon as she collected it, she turned around. Each of the groups was being attacked by two minions. As soon as a minion fell it was replaced by another which was waiting its turn. All of her group had lost some health. She quickly cast heal on them and then looked toward the area where Granite was working. He hadn’t finished, so Leah moved closer and cast Changing Attraction and then headed away from him toward her next target. As she passed Granite’s next area, she cast Changing Attraction and then began working on her second Diamond.

The minions were focused on the miners, and Leah’s group kept near her, moving as a unit to keep her shielded. Before she had time to cast Changing Attraction at the area around her second stone, Granite had started on his second. Leah again finished first and after checking on her team and healing them, she cast Changing Attraction on Granite’s area and then healed his team before moving to her assigned third area.

This time as soon as she began to mine she could feel the battle behind her increase in intensity. She had to force herself not to look and keep mining. When the third Diamond fell, Leah turned to see that each group was now being attacked by three minions. Despite the increased number of attackers, Leah was pleased to see that each group was still maintaining a good level of health and they seemed to work really well together.

The groups continued mining, with the only difference being the addition of another attacker when Leah and Granite started on their fifth Diamond each. When they had collected the ten Darkness Diamonds they wanted from this first level, they headed toward the access point to the next section of the mine. Jack had suggested that they work away from the access point so that they could harvest the dead as they moved toward the deeper level.

Leah and Granite joined the fight to give their teammates some respite and an opportunity to harvest the dead. It became clear as soon as Leah and Granite began to fight that they were all the minions were interested in. They ignored everyone else in an attempt to kill the Leah and Granite. Leah had full health and had been watching the fight for over fifty minutes without joining in. So, she equipped the Amber Dragon and waded into the minions. She was higher in level than all of them, and she was in her element. Within moments the rest of her team had nothing to fight, and for a moment they watched as she decimated the minions flowing from one to the next without pause.

Jack called them quickly to task and then he, Granite, Smash and Brim tried to keep pace with Leah while the rest of the team moved behind them harvesting the minions. As Leah neared the access area to the lower caves, the minions pulled back. Soon, all ten were standing at the access area surrounded by minions all standing in an arc around five metres from where the team stood.

Leah said, “Is everyone up for the second level?”

Jack replied, “Let’s do it. What is the plan?”

“I expect the layout is similar, but we will be attacked as soon as we leave the safety of the access way. Each MOB will be bigger, tougher, and have some extra stuff thrown in. I’m hoping the number who attack drops back to two a team, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Leah was about to step forward, but Mist slid in front of her and said, “Let me.”

The way down was steep but not difficult. When they got to the bottom and looked out into the next level, they realised that Leah had been both correct and incorrect. There was an arc of creatures waiting for them, and each was labelled as Lord Kötü Niyetli’s Level Two Minion. They ranged in Level from 300 to 320 and were generally larger and stronger. What Leah hadn’t predicted was the aura of mana which could be seen around some of the creatures. Also, the cavern was narrower and had an uneven floor. Looking out, they could see some of the minions waiting in raised positions and Leah knew that some places suitable for mining would have to be placed near such areas.

She said, “Granite, let’s move along the right wall first. You take the first mining spot, and I’ll take the second. After that, we’ll need to make it up as we go. I’m going to cast a spell which I hope will clear the way and then we’ll move out.”

Leah took a slow breath and then cast Dark Chain Lightning. As the first minion shattered and turned to ash, Leah was already looking ahead with her mining sight. She noted the first green area was on the floor and after casting Changing Attraction and pointing it out to Granite who was behind her, she moved forward to look for another indicator. Smash and Nemo were already moving in front of Leah to keep the attackers off her.

Nemo had emptied a vial of blood into his cupped hand and then after casting his spell, the blood elongated into a flexible rope which acted as a flexible sword and cut through minions with ease, absorbing some of their blood as it sliced them into pieces. As the flexible weapon grew in size, Nemo found it harder and harder to control it. As it lengthened, it was able to despatch minions further and further from his body. Finally, when the blood sword was over five metres long, Nemo began to spin in a circle killing everything he touched and then before it grew long enough to hurt his team, he sent it spinning deep into the canyon killing several minions along the way. He staggered back to the team, and his place was taken over by Megan, so he had time to rest and recover.

Finally, Leah found a second area to mine, and after checking there were no minions perched above her head she cast Changing Attraction and began to mine. While mining the first Darkness Diamond, they were attacked by two minions for each miner. This time the number of minions attacking stayed the same as the first level, much to Leah’s delight. However, without the advance knowledge of where the gems could be found Leah didn’t have an opportunity to cast Changing Attraction for Granite. This meant that by the time he was on his third gem, and his team was facing three minions constantly. Leah was on her sixth gem and her team was battling five minions. Leah finished first and started on her seventh. When Granite had his third his team made their way to where Leah was. Both groups helped protect her from the eight minions.

The second level had been harder. Several times the protectors had been severely wounded, and only the quick intervention of Granite and Leah had kept the attackers at bay. The minions with mana had cast spells which either stunned or burnt the defenders. Leah once again led them to the end of the level, and they paused to catch their breath. They had ten gems from the level, and each was almost double the size of the ones from the first floor.

Leah asked if everyone was OK to keep moving and she was rewarded with nods from everyone. As they moved down the access way, Granite asked, “How are you able to mine faster than me?”

“I cast a spell which makes it easier. I think there will come a time, maybe even on this level, when your team will need to work with mine to protect me as I mine. The minions will still attack you because you’ve been mining, but you’ll only have to face the minimum number for the level.”

Granite agreed, and they decided to wait and make the decision only after seeing how the attacker numbers were organised on the third level.

When they reached the base of the access way, they found a ring of waiting Level Three minions, all ranging from Level 314 to Level 340. In addition to an increased amount of mana surrounding some of the creatures, they also now possessed some purely physical ranged attacks. This became obvious immediately when several in the front row spat acid and poison at the two miners. Both Granite and Leah were prepared and moved quickly out of the way.

Leah cast Dark Chain Lightning again, and they headed into the cavern. As Leah began mining the second gem, an additional creature joined the attack. When Granite finished excavating his first Darkness Diamond he looked over and seeing the extra attacker, he and the players with him joined Leah’s group in defending her. While Leah was mining her eighth diamond of the level, the group lost Smash who stepped out of one attack and straight into a spray of acid. Before he could recover one of the minions pulled him away from the group, and he was cut to pieces in seconds.

On the fourth level they lost Mist and Blue. Mist had a minion fall on her after it had scuttled along the cavern roof to attack. Before anyone could reach her it had bitten off her head. Blue just wasn’t fast enough, and one of the tall upright minions cut him to shreds. There were seven left in the group and this time when Leah asked if they wanted to continue there was more hesitation. Granite said, “I’d like to do one more if we can. The diamonds on this level are the size of a fist. I can’t imagine what they are worth. On the other hand, I’d hate for us to lose some of the loot when we die.”

Megan and Phil were happy to head back, but Jack convinced them to try one more level. Together they agreed that if they lost two more, then those that remained would immediately head back. Exiting the access tunnel to the fifth level, everyone was alert for ranged attack and that was just as well for there was a sudden burst of what Leah thought was dragon fire. Each player had dodged the burst except Brim. Instead of dodging the blast she smiled and stepped forward to catch it in her hands. She threw it back at the waiting creatures, maiming one of them.

Leah didn’t wait and cast Dark Chain Lightning. Although a path opened for her, she was a little surprised when the Dark Lightning didn’t destroy every creature it touched. Two of them almost seemed to shrug it off despite being a little stunned. Granite dealt with one while Jack finished off the other. Before long, Leah found a green area and began to mine. From the start they were attacked by four minions at a time. After each gem one creature was added. Leah wasn’t able to mine continually this time and had to stop to help push back the minions more and more as they moved into the cavern.

Unlike the previous caverns, this time the players were taking continual damage and both Leah and Megan often had to cast heal on the other players. By the time Leah had finished collecting the sixth Darkness Diamond both Jack and Nemo were hovering at half health, and both were beginning to tire. Leah tossed them both some of her restorative potions and then launched an attack drawing four of the minions after her and giving the team time to recover. Although the minions were all at a higher level, Leah was still almost at full health. Her armour was tougher than the minions’ claws although some substantial scratches were starting to mar its surface. The Amber Dragon continued to renew her health even as she took the occasional blow which caused damage.

Nemo got too close to one of the minions while Leah was mining the eighth gem and was burnt by Dragonfire. Before anyone could reach him, he was pulled away and killed. While Leah was working on the last gem, Phil was killed when his shield collapsed after being bombarded by three attacking minion mages. Jack yelled that Leah should finish the gem and they should head to the next access way and recuperate before heading back. Leah nodded and kept digging. Minutes later, they fought their way to the tunnel and ducked inside to recuperate.

They were only halfway through the mine, but everyone knew it was time to head back. The five levels they had finished had taken over six and a half hours, and they were all exhausted. As soon as everyone was fully recovered Leah said, “Unless someone has a better suggestion I’ll take point. Jack, you’ll be on my right and Granite on the left. Brim and Megan will bring up the rear and shield us from incoming fire, acid and poison. Brim, you should focus more on the front and left side and Megan, I’d like you to cover the rear with your Lightning shields and keep an eye out for attacks on the right. Any questions?”

Nobody said anything and Leah prepared to step back onto the fifth level and head towards the fourth. The minions were all Levels 340 to 360, and they would be facing twelve at any one time. As she stepped out Leah cast Dark Chain Lightning and then began to cut her way through the press of minion who were waiting. The next place of safety was just over one hundred and twenty metres away, and she kept moving steadily toward it. They were about halfway when Jack stumbled because his sword had almost been pulled from his grasp. Leah was quick to help, and although the team quickly rallied and pulled into a circle, they had lost the momentum and come to a standstill. Jack took some potions but the delay had cost the others some significant damage.

When everyone was ready Leah stepped forward toward the exit. Without the momentum of already dead minions, she discovered almost immediately that she would need to do more than wield the Amber Dragon and cast the occasional spell. She needed to use everything in her arsenal.

She equipped her second sword, and with each cut and thrust, she began to cast spells in time with her movements. Slowly she cut deeper into the cluster of minions. The team had started to move forward again when suddenly Megan was pulled backwards by a flying MOB. Leah heard Megan’s yell and responded immediately. She teleported to Megan and stood over her while the team gathered around. They still had forty metres to go. As soon as Megan was back on her feet, Leah surged forward, but the minions were waiting. Leah was giving everything she had, and they’d begun to move when Granite stumbled. He was quick to his feet, but the minion he’d been fighting turned and swung at Leah. She saw the claws moments before it would have hit her arm, so she dropped the sword and misted her limb without thinking.

It was the first time she had misted in the cavern, and she hadn’t thought anything of it. Suddenly the minions went berserk. Not only the twelve who faced them but every minion in the cavern. Leah didn’t have time to make the connection because the incensed minions almost drove her to her knees. She responded automatically, un-equipping the Amber Dragon and misting her arms before extending her claws and shredding the three minions that were almost on her.

She went full vampire and tore into everything in her path. She’d moved halfway to the exit before she realised that the creatures were actually trying to escape. Moments later, she and her four companions reached the safety of the tunnel leading to the fourth level. As they turned to look at the minions who, having let Leah pass, had turned and like the others. They were now straining and writhing in senseless rage at the boundary which was stopping them from reaching her. Jack opened his mouth to say something when a roar filled the whole cavern, and a voice thundered and echoed around the chamber, “You shall die, I will rend you limb from limb. You will suffer for eternity. I curse you, you most hated of enemies.”

As the voice continued to scream threats, the minions became silent and still. Suddenly K’calama’s face appeared next to Leah, and she said, “Oops, I should have warned you that Lord Kötü Niyetli and his dark offspring hate vampires more than any other creature. A rabid clan killed Lord Kötü’s mate and left his children motherless. Oh well, I guess you won’t be seeing my brother after all. Have fun.”

Atherleah, two different storylines have come together, and one has precedence over the other. The conditions for entry to this mine have been cancelled. Lord Kötü Niyetli and his offspring are committed to the destruction of each and every vampire they come across. Your companions are free to leave the mine with whatever you have excavated to date, but they must leave you behind. Should they remain with you, they will suffer your fate. You have five minutes to decide, and then every minion in the mine and Lady S’yah Kaltak herself will be hunting you and whoever is with you. Should you escape the mine, understand that Lord Kötü Niyetli and his offspring will continue to pursue you until you leave the lands of the Dark Elves.

Leah looked up and could see the rest of the group were still reading whatever message they had been sent. She waited until they’d finished then said, “I’ll give you all the Darkness Diamonds I collected as well as the loot. When this is finished I’ll either meet you in Batislar or contact you somehow to get my share.”

Jack said, “Leah, we don’t leave a teammate behind.”

Leah smiled and said, “You will this time, Jack. If we stay together, not only will we all die but we’ll most likely lose some of the loot. If we separate, then at least you guys will survive, and we’ll have salvaged a goodly number of Diamonds. Don’t worry about me. I’m not giving up. I’ve killed a dragon before, and I still have a quest to finish. The fact that someone set this up so I’d be killed makes me a little angry, and I plan on doing whatever I can to mess up their plans. Now take the stuff and go.”

None of the other players liked it, but they all knew it was the only smart thing to do. As soon as Leah had passed over all the Darkness Diamonds and the loot she’d collected, she dissolved the group. As Jack led the others up toward the fourth level, Leah turned to face the unmoving minions.

She still had a few minutes before they would attack and she had Gèng put a countdown where she could see it. She Misted and tried to move through the MOBs but received a message.

Atherleah, you are unable to move from this position until the five minutes set aside for decision have elapsed. You have one minute and thirty-five seconds remaining.

Leah stepped back into the shadows and watched the clock countdown. As the timer reached zero, the minions surged forward, and Leah misted. Even though they couldn’t touch her, they knew where she was, and they continued to slash and bite as she moved further into the mine looking to go deeper. When she reached the far end, she stepped into the tunnel and had a brief moment of peace because none of the creatures could fit in the shaft although she could hear them frantically trying to make the space bigger so they could get at her.

She unmisted, and the ferocity of their scrambling increased. Leah checked her BSL and taking out several vials of blood she topped it up. She had 24,650 BSP. One thing she’d observed while moving through the attacking minions was that each time they tried to shred or bite her misted form, it increased the rate at which her BSP dropped.

She was about to step out onto the sixth level when the dragon’s voice echoed through the caverns again, cursing Leah and promising endless pain. Leah could understand the anger but still wasn’t going to just roll over and die. Just as she had done on the fifth level, Leah misted and moved across the sixth level and then the seventh, eighth and ninth. Each time she travelled through the connecting tunnel she replenished her BSP, but she was slowly coming to the end of her blood supply.

She was halfway down the final tunnel to the tenth level when a wave of Shadow Fire rushed up the tunnel and engulfed Leah. Her armour absorbed most of the damage although it did lose over half its durability. Leah quickly took a potion to restore her health and equipped her blue set of armour instead of the red. When the second burst of shadow fire shot up the tunnel the darkness diamond dust absorbed the mana, strengthening the armour. Leah had been warned though not to overload the diamonds. The suit had developed an aura of Dark Shadow and T’sar Rimci said the aura would begin to pulse if the diamond dust coating was close to its limit. The faster the pulse, the closer it was to failing.

Moving quickly, Leah looked out into the lowest level of the mine. A black dragon with dark grey highlights which swirled across her body was waiting.

LADY S’YAH KALTAK - DARK SHADOW DRAGON (Level 1135) 14,621,354HP (567,500EP)

Lady S’Yah wasn’t as big as Lady A’lev Sevgilisi had been but she exuded a ferocity and anger that Leah hadn’t felt in dealing with Lady A’lev.

Leah gave a small bow and said, “Lady S’Yah, I did not come with the intent to cause you such distress. I was ignorant of the pain your family has suffered at the hand of vampires in the past. If I could, I would look for a way to help you find peace. Even so, I will defend myself if attacked.”

“Defend yourself! Ha, you are a nothing! A cursed disease which must be destroyed. It is irrelevant whether you caused my pain. You are a foul creature and your kind must be extinguished from this world.”

As soon as she finished talking she shot another wave of Shadow Fire at Leah. As it engulfed Leah, she brought both her hands forward and cast Dark Chain Lightning with both hands. The lightning surged into S’Yah and drove her back a few steps, the scales on her head were singed, and smoke rolled off her. The dragon’s health had dropped by several hundred thousand points, but she had more than enough to spare. Leah’s armour began to pulse slowly.

Leah teleported onto S’Yah’s back and equipping Tufek Horozu’s War Axe, she brought it down and buried it between S’Yah’s shoulder blades. S’Yah’s body tensed in pain as the axe blade stuck deep into her flesh. Unfortunately for Leah when S’Yah had moved Leah lost her grip and was shaken off the dragon, landing heavily on the cavern floor. S’Yah dropped her body, smashing it into the ground and although Leah rolled out of the way as fast as she could, her left arm was caught by the falling dragon and crushed against the floor. Leah was lying on her front with her arm pinned and crushed. She equipped the Amber Dragon and thrust it into S’Yah’s side, causing the dragon to flinch just enough for Leah to roll free and get to her feet.

Leah’s arm was broken in numerous places, and her health was hovering around sixty per cent. She was slightly dazed and yet still aware enough to throw herself backwards just in time to evade S’Yah’s right wing which she’d extended and brought crashing down in an attempt to crush Leah. Leah landed awkwardly, the pain of falling on her damaged arm brought tears to her eyes and made her clench her jaw and eyes. Because her eyes were shut she didn’t see S’Yah’s left foreleg which the dragon raked backwards like an angry bull. The claws slammed into Leah, piercing her right thigh and throwing her almost twenty metres through the air. As she landed, her body tumbled along the ground doing further damage to her broken arm and inflicting bruises over much of her body. Her health was now below thirty per cent and dropping.

Leah stumbled to her feet and was hit by another blast of Shadow Fire. Her armour absorbed most of the blast but it started to pulse rapidly and then it dissolved into ash. The remaining fire burnt Leah across the front of her body and face, her hair was gone and her scalp blistered. Leah knew she was almost done. Her health was flickering at five per cent. Her stamina was just above ten, and her Ki was hovering just below thirty. Leah’s mana was the only resource she had left, and it was just over half full. In desperation, Leah cast Grow and then as she expanded to a height of eighty metres, her head slammed into the roof, and she fell forward onto the dragon. As she landed Leah extended her fangs and finding the dragon’s neck, she fed.

S’Yah’s blood flooded into Leah. It was stronger and more magical than anything she’d experienced before. She could feel the wave of magic as it engulfed her, healing every damaged cell. Within moments, Leah was satiated and saturated until her body wasn’t able to hold in any more of S’Yah’s life force. Leah could feel the magic begin to seep through her pores. She lifted her head, withdrew her fangs and cancelled Grow. With preternatural speed and grace, she moved to stand in front of S’Yah and looked her in the eye. S’Yah was beaten, her health holding steady at just over thirty per cent but she was drained of energy.

Leah said, “I don’t want to kill you, Lady S’Yah. Can you offer me no hope of peace between us?”

S’Yah’s voice was soft, “You did not kill me. Why?”

“You are not my enemy except in your own mind.”

“Vampires are evil, they have no souls, and they have no honour.”

“Some vampires are evil, and some have no honour. I have fought such creatures, and I felt no regret when I shredded their hearts. Some live endlessly seeking to preserve lives—they act with honour and integrity. I imagine that not all dragons have the same values as every other one of their kind.”

“You confuse me. You are one of the races of light. You are an abomination because of your mixed heritage. You are cursed with the evilest of afflictions, and yet you talk of hope, peace, and honour. I am struggling not to try and kill you. Seeking your death is at the very centre of who I am. My mind approves of your search for peace, but my very nature drives me to continue the attack.”

“I have the same struggle every day. Always there wars within a battle for control. Which of the things I believe in will determine who I am? Am I to be controlled by fear, by hatred, by vengeance, by mercy or by compassion? In my experience the battle must be fought each and every day until I become the person I wish to be. I don’t see any dishonour in the struggle. Dishonour comes when you allow the hateful side to have the victory.”

“My sire approaches.”

“Now I have a battle raging within. Do I escape and hide? Or do I try and change his mind and free him from this senseless path of destruction?”

“I suggest you run.”

“But then how will he treat you?”

“Either way, I am disgraced.”

“Then perhaps our only hope, yours and mine, is to change his mind.”

At that, Leah turned her back on Lady S’Yah and followed the cavern until she came to an opening which led to the floor of a deep valley. Unless you knew exactly where it was, it would be almost impossible to find. Leah walked onto the floor of the valley and sat down on a small boulder to wait.

She wasn’t sure if anything could be gained from talking and so she had a teleport destination fixed in her head in case she was attacked. She hoped she didn’t have to use it because she didn’t want to be hunted all over the Dark Elf territory.

There was hardly any warning as Lord Kötü Niyetli dropped into the valley, his wings snapped into place, and with a tremendous down thrust of his wings, he landed. Dirt, gravel, and stones were flung around the valley as he came to rest.

LORD KÖTÜ NIYETLI - DARK SHADOW DRAGON (Level 2017) 82,057,389HP (1,008,500EP)

Lord Kötü spoke in a voice which brought small avalanches of rock and dirt sliding down the valley walls, “I smell my daughter’s lifeblood upon your breath. I will bring darkness to the lands of Light and cleanse them of your entire breed.”

Before Leah could respond, there was movement behind her.

S’Yah said, “Why, Father? For what would you destroy a whole people?”

“For justice. Tell me, why does this vermin still live?”

“She lives because of justice. For what crime would you destroy her?”

“Are you enslaved by this abomination? Her death is demanded for the sake of your mother.”

“My mother died centuries before this one was born. What would her death achieve?”

“All vampires must die. They are evil, crazed, accursed and they are beyond redemption.”

“I am alive. I was granted mercy by this vampire. I was shown compassion by this vampire. How can a creature which shows compassion, which grants mercy, and which acts honourably be beyond redemption?”

“Do you align yourself with this abomination? Will you deny your heritage? Deny both your family and your honour?”

“I do not align myself with this person. I align myself with a desire for peace. I align myself with a hunger for truth. I align myself with a justice which seeks to punish the guilty and not the innocent.”

“How are you ensnared? By magic or with words?”

“I was ensnared by hatred, by custom, by pain. I have been set free by actions. I was defeated, and I yet I live because this creature, this vampire, hopes for peace. She allowed her dream to become a reality. She sits here because she would not let me face you alone.”

Lord Kötü’s face, which had been held aloft by his sinuous neck while he talked with his daughter, was thrust low and stopped just inches from Leah. He said, “What is your scheme, you creature of the cursed ones? What will my daughter’s life cost me?”

Leah said, “Lord Kötü, my name is Atherleah not ‘creature of the cursed ones’ or ‘the abomination’ or ‘vermin’. At least you didn’t call me ‘bitch’ because that really does annoy me. I don’t have a scheme and I don’t have any hold on your daughter’s life. Her life is hers, not mine and not yours. I didn’t save her for you. If I am honest, I didn’t even save her for herself. I let her live for my own reasons, because of how I want to live my life.”

“If I let you live, I demand that you leave these lands and never return. I will grant this boon as the reward for her life.”

“‘Let’? ‘Demand’? ‘Grant’? Lord Kötü? You are sadly mistaken if you think I was sitting here and waiting for you to turn up and grant me a boon. I am not here looking for your favour, and I am not beholden to you in any way. I am a free creature. I will go where I will, stay where I wish, and leave when I want to.”

“Take care, creature known as Atherleah. I am Lord Kötü Niyetli, Ruler of the Dark Lands and Sovereign over the Dragons of Darkness.”

“Cool. I am Empress Atherleah, Overlady of the Elfauns, Queen of the Dragonblood Dryads, Markiz, a Noble of the Road of the Kings, K’lbimizin, Lady of the Forest, Lady of Heykel, Lady of the Deep Forest, Dragon Slayer, God Slayer, Slayer of Büyük, Friend of Utzal, Counsellor of the Gods, The Champion of Hope and on and on. But you don’t see me getting in your face and trying to make you feel small, unimportant and irrelevant.”

“I have heard of you, Empress Atherleah. Do you seek to enslave me and join my people to your empire? We will not serve you.”

“I have no wish to enslave you. I hadn’t thought about asking you to join the empire, but I’m not sure I’d want you. I mean, what benefit would you bring to the empire? You are isolated, angry, and serve no productive purpose. You have nothing to offer.”

“My people have purpose.”

“Good, I’m glad. But enough of this talk. I have more business in this forest and in these lands that you claim as yours. I am not leaving and I will stay as long as I need to. Do I need to watch my back against some unwarranted attack by you or your people, or am I safe from your so-called vengeance?”

“The words of my daughter bear consideration. She was wise to choose an honourable path. I have no love of your kind, and I still consider vampires to be a disease upon the land. Your actions have given me pause to consider the possibility that not all your kind are deserving of my enmity and hatred. Neither I nor my offspring will seek your life unless you do evil unto the land or unto us. For the life of my daughter and as recompense for my undeserved hatred I grant you a gift.”

A small chest appeared on the ground in front of Leah. Before she could say thank you, the Dragon Lord had thrust himself into the sky and disappeared. Leah turned to look at Lady S’Yah.

S’Yah said, “For the gift of my life and for the lesson on mercy I also gift you this small favour. You are welcome to visit as you will but I am weary and must rest, and I ask that you excuse me.”

A second chest had appeared in front of Leah as S’Yah finished speaking and disappeared back into the cave. Leah opened the gift from Lord Kötü.

You have opened Lord Kötü’s gift:

1 Diamond Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü.

1 Platinum Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü.

1 Gold Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü.

1 Silver Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü.

1 Copper Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü.

10 Darkness Diamonds—one from each level of his mine.

1 Spell of Darkness Dragonfire

1 Spell of Darkness Dragonscales

Leah took the chest from Lady S’Yah and opened it.

You have opened Lady S’Yah’s gift:

1 Diamond Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü’s Darkness Diamond Mine.

1 Platinum Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü’s Darkness Diamond Mine.

1 Gold Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü’s Darkness Diamond Mine.

1 Silver Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü’s Darkness Diamond Mine.

1 Copper Coin minted with an image of Lord Kötü’s Darkness Diamond Mine.

10 Darkness Diamonds—one from each level of his mine.

1 Spell of Summoning—Lord Kötü Niyetli’s minions Levels 1-10

1 Cloak of Shadows—made from Lady S’Yah’s scales.

After closing the chests and putting them in her backpack, Leah was ready to head back to Batislar when a message appeared:

Atherleah (Level 315)

You have fed from a magical creature (Darkness Dragon) whose magical ability is far beyond your own. Their blood and magic have affected you permanently.

Effect 1—Your affinity for Darkness Magic has been reset to double the maximum allowed for an unchanged half-human half-elf.

Effect 2—Your essential racial characteristics have had those of a half-dragon added to them (+50 Strength, +50 Constitution, +100 Wisdom, +100 Ki)

Effect 3—Dragon blood seeped from your pores and renewed your hair. You have conscious control over the movement of your hair. Your skin is more durable than a standard half-human half-elf and will repair at an accelerated rate.

Effect 4—Your blood has been transformed, and your basic BSP is 160 BSP [1/4 Barbarian Human 8.5, 1/4 Forest Elf 11.5, 1/2 Dragon 30, Volume 8 Vials] and your BSL at Level 316 is currently 50560/50560.

Level 5 Dungeon Achievement - First 1 (3, Painite)

Atherleah (Level 315) you have exited a Level 5 area alive: The Darkness Diamond Mine of Lord Kötü Niyetli

Atherleah you have survived an expedition to mine the Darkness Diamond Mine of Lord Kötü Niyetli. You have successfully mined Darkness Diamonds from the first five levels.

You are in the group of first players to successfully mine this area. This is your third, ‘First 1 (Painite)’ achievement.

Reward 1: 5000 x 315 = 6118875 (+288.5%) Experience Points (5150000/5150000) (3214961/5250000)

Reward 2: + 4% to all future Experience

Reward 3: 3 x 1 Diamond = 3 Diamond

Reward 4: 5000 Fame 264565

Note: This achievement will be published on the Dunyanin achievement forum.

Leah teleported to her chosen spot outside the city and made her way to the Bristled Boar. When she walked in, she looked around, but Granite had seen her first and let out a wild yell. They made space and Leah joined them and sat down.

Jack said, “What happened? How are you still alive?”

Leah said, “I made it down to the tenth level and had a bit of a punch-up with Lady S’yah, but we eventually sat down had a chat, girl to girl, to sort things out. Lord Kötü turned up and got in my face, but his daughter settled him down, and we were able to discuss our differences amicably, well sort of. He agreed not to try and kill me, and I agreed I’ll go where I want and when I want. Then I headed back here, although I can’t stay long as my armour was destroyed in our punch-up.”

Leah stayed for a drink, and after taking her share of the loot, they exchanged contact details. Then Leah headed to the armoury to commission another suit. T’sar Rimci was amazed that she’d been in a battle that would destroy the armour but agreed to have another set constructed by the following morning. After Leah returned to the tavern where she was staying she logged out.

12

December 15, 2073 - Part 4

REAL WORLD

Almost as soon as Leah arrived in the Tower, she logged out of her Pod and took a quick shower. She was pleased to see that John had finally relented and no one was keeping watch inside her room. Leah was able to dress herself although her shoulder still gave her trouble. Because she was so sore, she wore very casual and baggy clothes that were easier to put on. She left her room and almost turned to head to her family’s kitchen, but just in time she turned in the opposite direction and went instead to the communal area used by all the staff as well as the young people she was sponsoring.

Being early, the room was almost empty of customers. The cook Leah had hired was behind the counter and offered to make Leah whatever she wanted. Leah decided on an omelette and then took a bowl of cut fruit and some orange juice. After she got her food, she joined the two other people having an early breakfast. One of them was River, one of the first people to live in the complex. She was sitting with one of the newer occupants, a woman in her late teens whose name was Alicia. Leah checked how they were doing and enjoyed the relaxed conversation.

She had almost finished her meal when her mother walked through the room. Lin smiled at the girls and wandered over and sat down.

Lin said, “Good morning River, good morning Alicia, it’s a beautiful morning. I’ve just been for a walk.” She then turned to Leah and said, “And a good morning to you, Leah. I remember meeting you just after I was rescued. I asked John when would be a good time to get to know you and he promised to try and arrange something. Are you free now, or do you have something planned?”

Leah wanted desperately to talk and have some time with her mother, but she didn’t know whether it would help or harm her mum, so she said, “I have a few minutes, but I do have an appointment I can’t miss in about ten. I’m going to have a cup of coffee. Would you like a drink of anything?”

“I’d love a cup of tea.”

Leah moved to the drink section and quickly made herself a coffee and then fixed Lin a cup of tea. When she put the cup in front of Lin, Lin said, “I usually have half a spoon of sugar in it.”

Leah said, “I already added it, I remember Michael mentioning how you liked your tea.”

“I want to thank you for rescuing me. How did John rope you into such a daring plan?”

“It wasn’t hard. I’ve known John for a long time, and he needed someone with my particular skill set. To be fair to John, he didn’t really want me along, but I insisted.”

“What skill set would a beautiful young girl like yourself have that they couldn’t find some older, more experienced person with?”

“I’m good at sneaking, and I’m fast and agile. They needed my speed and sneak to get past the guards.”

“I can still see some bruises on your face. How did you get hurt?”

“Believe it or not but I actually ran into a door. I heal quickly and I’m sure the bruises will fade soon. How has your recovery been?”

“I don’t like this thing in my head, nothing good can come from it. It is an evil thing from evil people.”

Leah knew her mum had always hated the idea of people living in the virtual worlds and losing touch with reality and morality, so she understood her fears. She said, “Don’t forget, Mrs Carroll, ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.’ So take heart, remember that if you set your hope on Him, then He will deliver you.”

“Leah, are you a Christian?”

“My mother is and I’m convinced that God is real. I love the teaching of the Bible, and I try and follow the example of Jesus. I often say that I am, and I even work to act like I am but how does one know for sure? I mean, there are some people in the world I just can’t find it in my heart to forgive, or to love. I think the best answer is that I want to be, but I really like doing things my own way.”

Lin chuckled and her deep feelings about what she was saying shone through as her English became more broken. “We are all like that I think. I don’t believe you can say if you are a Christian or not because of what you do. It is who you trust. When I listen to your advice to me, you say to trust God. I think you talk like you a Christian. I will pray for you.”

Leah thanked Lin and gave her a soft hug before hurrying out of the room before her mum could see her tears. In the past, her mum had always looked at Leah’s relationship with Jimmy and her fascination with weapons and education as a sign that she wasn’t quite there yet. For the first time Leah’s faith hadn’t been judged as less than acceptable. She was almost sobbing by the time she reached her room. She didn’t know if she was sad or happy, she only knew that she’d connected with her mum in a way she never had before and it happened when they talked as strangers.

THE STORK TOWER

Leah was still teary when she got in the Pod but had everything under control by the time she appeared in the Tower. Gèng sat down and said, “Sharon Thang contacted me while you were having breakfast. She wanted you to know that you’re likely to be contacted later today with numerous requests for interviews and she wanted to know how you want her to handle it. It is the fifteenth of the month, which means that the Multiverse Monthly Rankings come out today. Several people have already contacted her because they have the preliminary lists and you are on them.”

“I suppose she didn’t think it was a good idea to ignore them?”

“No. She suggested that you either hold a press conference or you let her organise an exclusive interview. The interview can either be with one of the major networks or with an independent reporter. She thinks you will have a better result if you do an interview.”

“When, where and with whom?”

“Results are released at midnight GMT which is in a couple of hours. Sharon suggests you plan to do an interview somewhere between midday and two o’clock. If the interview is exclusive, she suggests you host them here, but you could go to a studio. There are two or three independent commentators who are well respected who she thinks it might be good to get on side. You used the networks last time, and she thinks it would be wise to diversify.”

“Does she have any idea what the results are?”

“She has nothing specific but knows you’ve ranked overall in the top 1000, which surprised her because it uses a whole range of measures including influence, net worth, visibility, genres, etc. and she was surprised you would be that high when you’ve only focused on three games. There are a lot of other categories. She has heard that you’ve appeared in more than five categories and in more than one you’ve appeared in the top ten. She is certain you will be ranked number one as the most influential new player, which only considers players in their first six months online.”

Leah didn’t want to do it but when she considered the possible benefits for talking things over with Dunyanin, and more importantly what could happen if she let someone else set the narrative, so she finally agreed.

“Let Sharon know I’ll make some time after lunch. The best time will be after I get back from Dunyanin and before I go to Pneumatica. I love the Tower and don’t want to let my private space be broadcast around the world. If she can think of some way to protect my privacy, then she can offer to have it here. Otherwise, I’m OK to go to a studio.”

Gèng said, “I also had a message from Spectator, and they wanted to know why you missed a day. They decided to run a ‘best of’ program but asked if you could give them more warning in future. They already have the feed from the Self-Reflection Quest and wanted to reassure me that the numbers were likely to continue to grow.

“Finally, Sarfaraz called, and the Emerald Trustees have agreed to a meeting and are willing to schedule it to fit in with us. May I suggest after your NREM3 sleep this afternoon?”

“That should be good. I’ve an hour there where I don’t have something already planned. Can I have some time then to talk about the portal transitions? Each time I enter one of the worlds I have that sense of passing thousands of open windows through which I catch a glimpse of something but can’t quite recognise. I really want to get to the bottom of it because I’m finding it disconcerting.”

“I have some detailed recordings of your neural activity during the transitions, and I also saved the interactions I had with the different worlds as I connected with them. I’d like a few more samples before I show you an analysis.”

PNEUMATICA

Leah agreed, and with the business out of the way, Leah headed to the SPIDER and entered Pneumatica arriving back in her suite at the Herrington. She found the clothes she’d purchased the previous day were hanging in the walk-in wardrobe. After sorting through her options, she decided that she was becoming far too concerned with what she wore. Even so, she took another five minutes to finalise her decision and get dressed.

In the end, she’d opted for a white cotton fitted shirt with a sea captain style flare at the wrists and a ruffle at the front. She added a black and olive green striped leather underbust body-shaper corset with hip panels, as well as a pair of black calf-leather pants with full calf-length olive green boots which had a series of buckles on the outer edge and two-inch copper heels. To complete her outfit she added a short black leather top hat with her symbol riveted on both sides in copper. The hat band was in the same olive leather as her boots and corset. Finally ready, she headed into the suite and found Howard ready and waiting.

He said, “Excuse me Captain, but both Mr Bartle and Mr Ayers are waiting in the foyer. Shall I show them in or would you rather I offer them another time when they might visit?”

“I was about to head toward the duelling common, but please show them in as I had hoped to see them there.”

“As you wish Captain. If I may be so bold, I do wish you the most successful morning.”

“Thank you, Howard, I do appreciate your kind sentiment and your encouragement.”

Billy and Henry were quickly ushered into the suite. Leah had taken a seat but stood to greet them, and Billy said, “Greetings Captain and a good morning to you. I trust you are well rested.”

“Thank you, Mr Bartle. I believe I am ready to face the day. Have you gentlemen come to escort me to the duelling fields?”

Henry said, “I have indeed, and it a shameful thing for such a beautiful day to be marred by this event.”

“Oh, nonsense Henry. A brief period of exercise is good for the constitution and prepares one for an active day. I do hope to achieve much with what little time I have. Will you consider me intemperate if I suggest we leave before offering you some refreshment?”

Billy said, “Not at all Captain. I have taken the liberty of already acquiring the use of a carriage for the morning. Might I be permitted to escort you wherever you need to go?”

“Your attention and presence are always welcome Mr Bartle, though I fear you make yourself vulnerable to misadventure by your close association with me.”

“Have no such concern, dear Captain. I believe that I am better served by your association than by its absence.”

They continued to have polite conversation until they arrived in the Lobby where Albert was waiting. He said, “Captain Charlotte, may I on behalf of the staff here at the Herrington wish you every success this morning. In addition, I wished to inform you that I was successful in the task you set for me. Indeed I am quite pleased to say that I was able to find what you asked for at odds of fifteen to one.”

“I do appreciate your well wishes, Mr Lincoln. Let the staff know that I am deeply touched by their kind regard and encouragement. I hope to return in the early afternoon.”

“Until then, Captain.”

The steam carriage Billy had arranged was waiting outside. After helping Leah into the cabin and arranging both Henry and himself in the facing seat, he said, “If you will forgive my impertinence and my intrusion into your affairs, would I be able to know the value of the wager you placed?”

“To be quite clear Mr Bartle, I am generally not one to wager frivolously when it involves a man’s life, but I found myself somewhat put out yesterday evening when I returned to my suite. I did ask Mr Lincoln to arrange a small wager on my behalf. I believe I passed him exactly two thousand pounds.”

Both Henry and Billy found they had no easy response and the silence continued until Leah decided to rescue them, and said, “I do hope that neither of you is offended that I have dabbled in a game of chance?”

Billy said, “Some would suggest that the word dabble is somewhat inaccurate when it refers to the sum of two thousand pounds, Captain.”

Leah smiled and said, “Indeed Captain, but I must confess that was not the largest inaccuracy of my previous words. I fear I was being the most dishonest when I used the word ‘chance’.”

Henry said, “Are you so confident, Captain? Hugh Westmorten is a vicious and well-skilled brawler. He outweighs you by a factor of two and has a greater reach.”

“Shall we place a wager on an outcome, Henry?”

“I shall not. Even though I fear for you, I am not without hope that you will persevere.”

Billy had been watching and listening to Leah closely and said, “Henry, I am continually finding new delights as I have dealings with Captain Charlotte. She did not say she would wager on ‘the’ outcome but on ‘an’ outcome. Which outcome do you suggest we make the basis of our wager, Captain?”

“I was thinking that I was willing to place some money on the length of the duel.”

Billy said, “Have you some figure in mind?”

“I am entirely flexible. For example, I would wager another two thousand pounds that the duel will take less than one minute. On the other hand, if you believed it would be over the sooner, then I am also amenable to a wager of two thousand pounds that we shall duel for greater than five minutes. If either you or Henry had some firm idea and set some firm odds, then I would find myself somewhat energised to take your money. But let us not allow such things to come between us.”

Billy smiled and said, “I find I am once more in agreement with you, Captain Charlotte. It is better that we work together rather than at odds. Would you be interested in that scenario of the duel being less than one minute if I was to put the question to one of the many lovers of chance who frequent the duelling fields?”

“If you were to make sure I knew the terms beforehand, Mr Bartle, then I would be open to adding some small resources to your endeavours. I must, however, admit that on no account will I agree to a wager wherein I am expected to allow Hugh Westmorten to survive.”

When they arrived at the place set aside within the city confines for duels Billy helped Leah from the carriage. Then he and Henry escorted her toward the lawned common. The area had been partitioned into fifteen distinct sections of smooth turf. Each was fifteen yards by fifty yards and could be booked at any time of the day or night for the purpose of honour duels. Some players organised duels on an almost daily basis, while others were like Leah and ended up facing an opponent for some infraction of honour.

Leah could immediately see which of the areas had been allocated for her duel with Hugh as it was surrounded by a mass of people, many of whom she recognised as airmen from either the Tempest or the Draken. As she approached, they gave a good-natured cheer, and both Mr Wilks and Major Daniels stepped forward to greet her.

Leah said, “A good morning to you both. While I am encouraged by your support, I trust I have not made havoc of our plans to ready the fleet.”

Ian said, “Not for a moment, Charlie. The crew will be all the stronger for seeing you dispatch the scoundrel. Those who have seen you fight are hoping to lay the odd wager and those who haven’t will have a story to tell when we get back to the aircraft.”

Leah smiled and then turned to acknowledge Captain Barnsdale, who had arrived while they had been talking. Leah said, “Captain, I am embarrassed to have caused such a disturbance that I would interrupt your day.”

“Nonsense Captain. I and a number of the other captains are often challenged for one reason or another, and we find it useful to show solidarity as it tends to reduce the overall number of challenges. I am somewhat surprised that you have chosen unarmed combat.”

“I have yet to finish the repairs to my vision Captain. While I am somewhat confident I might still prevail using my sword even though I lack depth perception, I do believe I have a greater certainty up close.”

“Even so, I am confused by the elegant nature of your attire. It seems conducive for the scoundrel to find a ready purchase should he take hold of your garments.”

“You are quite correct sir, yet I have another appointment soon after the duel. With that in mind, I shall endeavour to complete our battle apace so as not to have my outfit be brought into disarray.”

Henry came over and said it was time. He led Leah into the centre of the field, where an official stood at the ready. Beside him were Hugh and James. Hugh was shirtless and wore a tight pair of leggings, secured at his waist with a belt. He wore a thick pair of shoes.

The official waited for quiet then said, “We are here to witness a duel of honour at the request of Hugh Westmorten. He holds the opinion that Captain Charlotte has brought dishonour to his name by her unsolicited and scurrilous comments concerning two members of his close family, Mistress Westmorten and her son James.

“Captain Charlotte, I ask if you are willing to humble yourself and make amends to Hugh Westmorten that this duel might be averted?”

“I would that it were possible for all people to live in harmony. It is unfortunate indeed that some people take such objection to the truth. As I am wedded to the truth, it is with regret that I must decline your most gracious offer.”

When she finished speaking, she carefully removed her hat and handed it to Henry. “Please hold this for me for but a moment. Thank you.”

“Hugh Westmorten, could you be persuaded to dismiss the captain’s words and stand instead on your own declaration of honour?”

“No.”

The official held a square piece of white linen in his right hand and said, “Then I would ask you both to turn and take three paces and then stop. At my command, turn and face each other. I shall let this cloth slip from my fingers. When it touches the ground, you are free to begin the duel. The agreement is that you will engage in unarmed combat until one of you lies lifeless. Please take your places.”

The official took five large steps backwards. On Leah’s side, Henry stood watching calmly. On the other side, James was leering at Leah. There was silence across the field as Leah and Hugh took their positions. After asking them to face each other, the official waited a moment, held out the cloth, and let it fall.

As soon as it hit the ground, Leah ran lightly toward Hugh who had crouched low and was advancing on her. It seemed that she ran into his arms, but as he brought them together, she was flipping through them and over his head. Leah and John had practised all types of unarmed combat, always seeking for the quickest way to end a fight rather than to win some mock duel on points. Leah had rehearsed these moves hundreds of times with another human and perhaps a thousand times with the practice dummy.

As she approached Hugh, she took a few steps to gain momentum and then leapt high into a jump. She aimed for her head to rotate just to the right-hand side of Hugh’s head. Using her arms to gain momentum, Leah brought her knees toward her chest while in the same manner bringing her head forward. If she were doing a flip by itself, she would have held onto her legs. Instead, she’d practised this repeatedly until she could bring her legs to the right position without using her arms. So as her legs came over her head, she reached back with her right arm, extended it past her shoulder and took hold of Hugh’s head by hooking her fingers under his left eyebrow and stretching them until they pushed into his eye. Her left hand she brought across her body, and reaching back took the same grip on the right side of his forehead.

As she continued her rotation, she brought her left elbow in toward her body and locked it at the base of Hugh’s neck. Without her hands to control the roll, her back slammed hard into Hugh’s back, and her arms were pulled forward. The torsion snapped Hugh’s neck, and it bent back and over Leah’s elbow. As Leah fell toward the ground, she wrenched Hugh’s head downward, snapping whatever elements of his spinal column remained un-fractured. For a moment Leah stood back-to-back with Hugh, his head bent at ninety degrees and resting on her right shoulder with her hands still holding firmly onto his forehead.

Leah turned sharply to her right, which pulled her right arm down while at the same time she pushed firmly with her whole body, aiming to drive her left hand forward. She was now standing with her right shoulder between Hugh’s shoulder blades, and his head was not only bent backwards at a right angle but was also rotated through ninety degrees as if looking along the line of his left shoulder. Leah let go of Hugh and stepped forward two steps before turning and making her way toward Henry. The entire duel had lasted less than ten seconds.

Leah’s footsteps could be heard clearly in the stunned silence that had fallen on the field. When she reached the three men, she reached out slowly, took her hat and carefully put it into place before stepping away towards her friends. Before she’d taken two steps in their direction, the entire field erupted with sound as people yelled their amazement and joy at Leah’s quick victory.

Altogether it was more than half an hour before Leah, Billy and Henry were once more in the carriage. Leah had taken the time to give attention to each member of her crew who wished to congratulate her and had also made an effort to speak with each of the Privateer Captains who had come to support her. Once they had left the duelling fields, Leah said, “If it is agreeable, I would appreciate it if you might escort me once more to the studio of Mr Willeford.”

This had been the plan, and they confirmed that the studio was their destination. Billy said, “Charlotte, you are a most dangerous woman. That is not a criticism but rather a statement of high praise. I have some greater understanding of the respect with which you are held by those who serve on your aircraft. Many of them were so sure of their Captain that they had placed much of their wealth upon your success. I mention this because I took advantage of our discussion that took place during the previous journey, and was able to find some gentlemen that are involved in many different events of chance. These men did disregard the esteem accorded you by your crew and offered me terms of fifty to one that you might defeat Mr Westmorten in less than one minute. On your behalf, I did place a wager to the value of two thousand pounds. I am telling you this, at a time which might seem somewhat inappropriate, as I must make haste to ensure that the correct and timely payment is forthcoming.”

“I understand your haste and take no offence. I am somewhat uncertain of the morality wherein I benefit financially by the death of any man, even one who is a scoundrel. On the other hand, I am convinced that he was going to die anyway. That my men and my good friends have found some benefit brings me some cheer.”

When the carriage stopped outside Thomas Willeford’s storefront, Billy helped Leah from the carriage and then rapidly disappeared down the street. Leah and Henry were quickly ushered into the rear of the store where Thomas was waiting. He had apparently been working on the plans all night because in addition to drawings he had constructed some life-size models. Leah was pleased with what he had designed, and although he hadn’t been able to find anyone who used wireless connections, he had taken her other ideas on board and found innovative ways to make them work.

Thomas had decided to use the very best materials he could and even planned to sub-contract some of the work to another craftsman who Thomas believed could do the work at a higher standard. When they had finished looking through the designs, Thomas said, “I was right yesterday. This won’t be cheap. Altogether, the complete package before I make a profit will cost four thousand one hundred and five pounds.”

Leah said, “I’m able to pay for it Thomas, and I expect you to increase the quotation that you might be properly reimbursed for your skills.”

“I normally charge an additional twenty-five per cent, which would bring the total to five thousand one hundred and thirty-seven pounds.”

“What percentage would be appropriate to initiate the project?”

“I would usually ask for half now and the rest on completion.”

“How long will it take?”

“I was thinking all night about our discussion yesterday and so full disclosure: I have already started to put everything together. I hope it will be finished by tomorrow morning, but let us plan for tomorrow afternoon to give time for a thorough testing phase.”

“How long will it take to install?”

“That is the easy part. If you would, plan for thirty minutes to install it, and then an additional couple of hours to fine tune and learn how to use it.”

Leah took out three thousand pounds and handed it to Thomas. He wrote out a receipt and then said, “Might I have another word in private?”

Henry took the hint and disappeared quickly into the front of the store. Thomas said, “I don’t want to talk anymore outside of my personal space or in the space of someone I trust. What is the best way to contact you?”

Leah had Gèng send Thomas her contact information and said, “I’m not often free to talk because it seems that I’m always rushing from one place to another. Let my AI know your schedule, and she’ll be able to work something out. If you need to contact me urgently then just tell my AI what you need, and she’ll start working on it even if I’m not able to.”

“That sounds like a seriously high-end AI.”

“She is a class act. I’d best get moving. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, thank you, Thomas.”

Thomas led Leah into the front section, and then Henry escorted Leah back to the Herrington. When she walked in, Albert was waiting with a thick envelope. He said, “Captain Charlotte, may I take this opportunity to offer you my congratulations on the preservation of your honour this morning.”

“Thank you, Mr Lincoln. I wish that the situation had not escalated such that the duel was necessary, but I do feel vindicated.”

“As you should, Captain. Here are the proceeds as we discussed. I must also thank you for your steadfast confidence. I was so emboldened by your certainty that I convinced Mrs Lincoln to add a goodly portion of our savings to my wager. Mrs Lincoln asked that I also thank you on her behalf.”

“Thank you, please pass on my regards to Mrs Lincoln, and should she have a free moment I would be pleased to take tea with her one day. Now if you will excuse me, I must look toward tomorrow and do some planning.”

“As regards that, Captain, several boxes of documents were delivered for you and have been placed in your suite.”

Leah headed to her room and spent the next four hours looking through blueprints and reviewing everything she could about the Emersons. She had also received a gilt-edged envelope inviting Captain Charlotte to a ball to be held at Lord Hammersford’s mansion in the evening three days later.

Finally, having looked through just over half the papers, Leah had the beginnings of an idea and logged out to the Tower before leaving the Pod for some morning tea.

13

December 15, 2073 - Part 5

REAL WORLD

Leah was able to get a bowl of fruit, some orange juice and a doughnut from the common room without being distracted except by several people who said ‘Good morning’. She took the food to her room to eat. She took a dose of supplements that Gèng had suggested to help speed up her recovery and thought about her plans.

Leah had hoped to claim the space station she and Wisp had discovered several days before, but with everything that had been going on she and Wisp had agreed to postpone the mission until now. Leah was looking forward to spending the time with Wisp and in doing something that had no real urgency to it. The Betrayal had been orbiting the space station for two days. Wisp had spent some time preparing for the takeover attempt and had logged into Cosmos Online regularly to keep an eye on the ship. She’d not only reviewed the data their drones continued to collect as they mapped the system, but she’d also done the research on claiming space stations. Wisp had used some of the time to get qualified in using the Mechanised Marine Suits Leah had found aboard the Betrayal. After a brief shower, she entered the Pod.

COSMOS ONLINE

When Leah walked onto the bridge of the Betrayal, Wisp was waiting. Wisp’s greeting was almost an attack as she released some of the stress and emotions she’d been bottling up since hearing of all the things Leah had been dealing with over the last few days. When Leah finally escaped Wisp’s embrace, she could see tears running down the older girl’s cheeks.

Wisp suddenly pulled herself together and wiped her eyes quickly with her hands. “Sorry about that, Leah. I’ve been so wired since I found out about your mum and Thad. I wanted to help so much. I’ve felt useless and then you walked in and gave me that cheeky and somewhat cocky grin that I love and I just lost it. I know you’re tough and everything but tell me, how are you really? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Leah said, “It has been hard, and to be honest it hasn’t slowed down at all. If anything I have more questions and more problems than I did a few days ago. They just aren’t quite as urgent. I don’t want to talk here, so we need to get together soon at your place or mine, and I’ll tell you everything, well almost everything. Just knowing I have a friend that I trust, someone who will listen to me and still love me is a big help. Also, I think today will be a big help, we can talk and have fun and explore something new, and nothing that’s life and death really hangs in the balance. It’ll be fun.”

The two girls talked about everyday things for a few more minutes, and then Wisp said, “OK, I’ve pulled together everything I can from the different forums on claiming a system. The first thing that needs to happen is, we need to find and power up the space station which the developers have placed in the system. Some don’t have space stations, and they are almost exclusively used for mining. This system does have a space station, or what I think is a space station, maybe even a major system station. There are at least four types of stations that have been left for discovery in the game, and no one really knows what type the station is until it powers up.

“The smallest have between three and ten levels, and they are in out of the way systems and are used to collect resources. They give travellers a place to stay and serve as a jump point to the planet below. They cannot be accessed by players except by spaceship. They are almost always mapped entirely by their owners even before others can get to them. Pirates have been known to attack and occupy such stations, and that forces a change in ownership.

“Next are Class II stations. They’re between ten and fifty levels and have at least one public level with hotels, shops, training, etc. New players can’t start on these stations, but they can use their additional avatars to access them. Most are owned either by guilds, clans or businesses and are used for training and as staging bases, either for missions to a planet or to another system or for some themed entertainment. Mahigan owns, or manages, three of these. They are universally aligned with one of the races or alliances. They can expand because the developers always make sure there are two or three unexplored decks or levels.”

“Class III stations are the most well-known and are used as starter stations. They have numerous levels designated as public areas and space is available for people to start their own business. People can buy or lease space. Most of them are unaligned, and most are owned and operated by Cosmos Online exclusively. They have between fifty and five hundred levels, and none of them has yet been fully explored. Two are privately managed, but the owners are required to let the developers operate the standard public areas. All of them are major hubs with tens of thousands of players using them every day.”

“The last type are mission and technology orientated. They are almost always a secondary station, and they are one of the busiest parts of the game. More than half are privately discovered and then privately operated. The owners get a proportion of the revenue that is generated. Any new technology that is found goes to the finders. Every system with a Class III has at least one of these stations. Not all of them are in free space, and some are on moons and asteroids.

“There are probably another ten or eleven stations that exist or have been found that don’t fit into the general classifications, but they have a specific function which is necessary to the system. There are rumours of Class IV and Class V stations either being developed or are already inserted, but Cosmos Online has been super quiet on what they will be like.”

Leah said, “You said you thought this might be a major system station. That would be a Class III?”

“That’s what I think! Either that or even possibly one of the new stations. It’s huge! It’s at least twice as big as the others I’ve examined, and I’d estimate it has over two hundred distinct areas that could be levels, but I think are multi-levelled. So, there could be many more, maybe over a thousand levels. With everything the survey says about the system, it would almost be crazy not to have the system opened up. It has gas giants, a massive asteroid field that is super rich in metals and two habitable planets. The survey suggests that each habitable world has its own diverse ecosystem without overlap. That means two new sentient species. Cosmos Online always offers players the chance to buy an avatar when new species are found. One is water bound, and there are only five water bound species at the moment.

“The only reason I’m not certain is I don’t understand its design. All the space station designs are unique, but they have some things in common. They all have places to dock. They all have a clear design or motif that matches the planet. When you look at one, you can kinda guess what each bit does, and even if you’re wrong, you can see how you should have got that right. But with this, there are the thirty or more odd free-floating bits which I think will connect by energy or some type of extension, but I can’t work it out, and it’s frustrating. I know from the scans that it looked like a complete station, but the scans don’t match the visual.”

“Have you found any evidence of another station?”

“Not in the general sense. It’s possible that we’re actually looking at two stations in the same area, depending on how the pieces connect. Also, there are some large asteroids which may or may not be filled with tunnels or ancient excavations. One of the gas giants has a massive bubble hidden beneath the surface, which sensors suggest has a low enough gravity for people to survive in and it may be breathable. There is one area of the system out past the fifth planet which sensors haven’t been able to map at all, and I think something out there may have some type of cloaking device. There are some satellites with weird orbits that might be used that for smaller stations. The scan isn’t finished, and there are probably thousands of small objects that the scans have missed.”

“So, how do we turn it on, or start it up?”

“I read what other players shared, and they all seem to have the same basic scenario. First, find an entry point. It will be hidden and protected but no attempt to brute force an entry has ever worked. Usually, there are traps, ancient defences, puzzles, and all the other things. Once we are inside, we need to find the power source. There will be a maze or a map. It might be clues such as a flickering light or a small vibration. It varies all the time, but we need to find the source through the usual defences, traps and puzzles. Cutting through bulkheads or blasting doors has never worked. Once we find the power plant or source, we may need to repair it or find some resources that it has run out of. You can imagine a whole lot of different scenarios and the developers say they spend a lot of time trying to make each experience unique. It’s most likely a team has been working on that station for years. One developer said he has been creating quests for the same station for fifteen years.

“Once we have the power connected we’ll need to find the control room and claim the station. If it is a Class III, then we’ll enter into immediate discussions with the developers to market it. They want the discovery open for business within a week. I almost suggested we buy some shares in the company that owns Cosmos Online because their share price goes up significantly after every Class III find. If it is a Class II, then we have several months to explore it on our own before sharing details.”

“Are you still thinking about buying shares?”

“Yes. I did some research, but I don’t really understand all the legalities and didn’t understand things like insider trading etc. I’m going to read up some more tonight.”

“Are you OK if I ask Gèng to do some research and maybe talk with someone who works in the area?”

“Sure, I’d love to hear what she finds out or what they say.”

Gèng spoke so only Leah could hear her and said, “I’m on it. I’ll see if George can help or if he has a recommendation.”

Leah subvocalised, “Thank you. Run the general concept past Leon as well without specific references.”

Out loud, Leah asked, “So, have you found the entry point?”

“Yes, maybe, and no. Look at the first scans.”

Wisp had her AI project a 3D image of the station, and with a gesture, she expanded it to fill half the room. It looked like two flat disks connected by a tube. The discs weren’t right next to each other, and the tube was several times longer than the circumference of either disc. It resembled one wide tyre, and one thin tyre joined with a long fat irregular axle.

The fatter disc had a series of nine curved spike-shaped protrusions, equally spaced around its circumference. They weren’t straight but curved in different directions and with no discernible pattern. On the side opposite the tube, there were eighteen smaller protrusions which gradually became thinner the further they went from the disc. Every third one of these was larger and longer and curved slightly toward the centre.

The thinner disc looked like a flower or maybe a hand mirror. At one point on its circumference, there was a long section which looked like a handle or flower stem. It was longer than the diameter of either disc. It wasn’t straight but had a gentle curve which didn’t keep the ‘handle’ in the same plane as the disc. The rest of the disc wasn’t an exact circle but undulated in a regular pattern. The only exception was the undulation opposite the large handle. It was larger than the others and had what looked like two small horns.

The tube which connected them looked solid but bumpy. It was like an irregular piece of woven rope or a rough piece of cord when the image was small. As Wisp enlarged it Leah could see it wasn’t solid. It was constructed from thinner straight cylindrical tubes which were connected to both discs. Leah couldn’t readily discern a pattern where the tubes joined either disc.

Wisp said, “When the Betrayal got close I did a more detailed scan. This image shows the actual physical pieces. The rest is some form of residual radiation or another emission which affects the scan but has no physical form.”

Leah could clearly see the connection between the two images, but whole sections had disappeared. The first disc looked almost the same. Spikes still extended from the circumference and it still showed the eighteen smaller protrusions, but the side where the ‘axle’ had been was now bare. The tubes had disappeared. Leah could still see portholes and hatches, small communication antenna and the like, but the tubes weren’t there. She used her hands to enlarge the area and rotated it until she was looking face on to the surface. When she did that, she could see the places where the tubes had been. Eighteen circular spaces dotted the surface. It looked like they were some type of entryway, hatch or portal and Leah imagined she could easily fit a ship twenty or thirty times larger than the Betrayal through each entrance.

Leah reduced the image and switched between the two scans and was able to match each tube with one of the portals. In the visual scan, the tubes had disappeared completely, as had whole sections of the flatter frame-shaped disc. Instead of a single solid shape, there were twenty-seven separate pieces.

The long handle was still present, but the entire central section of the disc out to half the radius was empty space. The pieces formed three rings. The smallest outlined the hollow centre. The nine pieces were not touching but were curved and regularly spaced. The next ring also had nine pieces and was situated halfway between the inner ring and the edge. The final nine formed the outer edge, and each piece was differently shaped on its periphery forming the undulations, the horns and the handle.

Leah reduced the image back to how Wisp had had it and said, “OK, I can see what you mean about radiation. What are you thinking?”

Wisp said, “Uh, uh. I don’t know how they are all connected, but I can see your brain working and turning. What I can do is share my ideas and give you time to come up with an explanation.”

Wisp isolated the wide flat disc and said, “I’ve convinced myself this is the main space station. When I said it was twice as big I was thinking of just this bit. The side with all the radiation tubes is mostly flat, and nothing stands out. The other side isn’t smooth, it has buildings on it, and they are laid out like a city. Here, take a look.”

Leah expanded the wide disc again and this time looked at the side opposite where the large circular portals were. As she zoomed in, she could see what Wisp was saying. Around the edge were the eighteen protrusions, with six being longer than the others. From the centre of those six were long avenues like spokes on a wheel which continued toward the centre but stopped short where they merged with a similar avenue which circled a central district. At the centre of that was a tall regularly shaped hexagonal building. Leah could see that between each of the spokes were buildings with streets and small alleyways, with some vacant areas that looked like parks.

Leah turned to Wisp and said, “What is the radius?”

“Three kilometres.”

“It is big. Where is the power source?”

“OK, if this is the main station, then I think that central building will be where the administration centre is and that would be the best place for a control room but not really a good place for the power source. I looked really closely at the city, and I found what I think are outside seating areas. If that’s true, then the whole city had an atmosphere at one stage. I think the outer protrusions somehow form a force field which keeps the atmosphere in. What do you think?”

“I’m still with you. If you are right, then what?”

“Then the power source is most likely on the circumference, and that’s it. So, like I said: yes, I think it is on the circumference; maybe if my thinking is correct; and no, I haven’t got it any closer than that.”

Leah turned the disc and did a quick scan of the edge, but nothing stood out to her as a starting place. She reduced the image again and looked at all the pieces. She reduced it further until the parts began to blur together.

Wisp said, “You get a look in your eye that means you have an idea, and you’re excited. Every time I see it I wish, just wish I could experience it myself. What are you thinking?”

“Still processing, but I’ll do it out loud because I’m pretty sure you worked out what the big disc is, and I think you’re right about the atmosphere and the spikes. I was just thinking of the ones that stick out from the edges. Can I get Gèng to operate the image and add some things?”

“Sure.”

“Gèng, would you please review all the scans since we arrived and give me a quick summary of any changes in the relative position of any piece of the station?”

“There have been minor shifts in orientation detected for eight of the nine spikes on the outer edge of the disk Wisp believes to be a station. Movement was also detected in all but one of the outer ring pieces on the other construct.”

Wisp said, “Why would they shift? What do they point at?”

“Gèng, add the sun, planets and main asteroids to the plot.”

This time when Leah reduced it, the solar system could be seen as the station was reduced to a single dot.

“Extend a red line from each of the endpoints on the station disk throughout the solar system.”

As soon as Gèng added the lines, both Wisp and Leah saw that one of the lines was centred on each of the seven planets and two pointed into empty space.

Leah said, “Add something to represent that blurred part of space Wisp mentioned.”

Immediately they could see that one line now bisected that region of space.

Leah said, “Gèng, I suspect that the one spike that did not move is the one pointing at nothing we can detect. Am I right?”

“You are correct.”

Wisp said, “Gèng, can you extend the two horns and the large handle using a different colour?”

Three blue lines were added. The end of the handle was centred on the star. One horn focused on a gas giant and the other was aimed at empty space.

Wisp said, “One of the gas giants has both a red and a blue line. Gèng, can you highlight the bubble the scans detected?”

As soon as Gèng marked the spot, both Wisp and Leah could see they both were pointed at the region where the bubble was.

Leah said, “So I imagine the horn pointing at nothing should point at the other gas giant. Now Gèng, what about the discs themselves, do they always face the same planet, sun or what?”

“In the time since the Betrayal entered the system, they have rotated slowly but have remained focused on the same part of the galaxy.”

Leah pondered for a minute and said, “Reduce the image even more to include the stars in Cosmos Online. I know the scales will make it difficult but extend a line from each of the tubes that connected the two disks. It’s probably best to let the line form a small conic shape the further away it gets.”

When Gèng had finished the calculations and plotted the cones, they could see the cones intersecting with multiple systems.

Leah said, “Gèng, locate the systems we looked at which we think are resource-rich and which most likely have habitable worlds. Mark the top fifty in bright orange.”

In six of the cones, there was a noticeably centred orange light.

Leah said, “Thanks, Gèng. Reduce everything back to the space station for now.”

Once the space station was again in the centre of the room, Leah and Wisp just stared at it. Finally, Wisp said, “It’s a portal, isn’t it. Fast travel across Cosmos Online.”

“Yep. I think so. I imagine similar hubs are waiting in some of those other systems.”

“And the power system?”

“Something which uses solar energy and the resources from the gas giants. We’ll have to realign the faulty spike on the disc to whatever it should be aimed out in the outer system and aim the horn at the gas giant. I’ve no idea what the blurred area is so we’ll need to investigate it closely. It’s possible there are two systems, one for the station and one for the portal.”

Wisp said, “What if we have it wrong? There really is nothing in that part of space as far as I can tell. What if each gas giant is supposed to have two places of intersection? One to power the station and the other to power the portal but the portal also needs the connection to the star?”

Leah mapped it out in her head and looked the angles then said, “It could work, and it makes more sense than trying to find a mysterious point in space. Gèng, can you plot the movements for the next two solar years and see if the movement of planets still makes it possible for what we’ve said to work?”

Gèng showed the plot as she did the calculations, and it was clear that if the spikes could move then the station and portal could be powered throughout the entire system cycle while the portal remained focused on the same part of the galaxy.

“So, why point at the planets?” Wisp asked.

“Gravity as a power source, maybe. I wonder if the towers send, receive, or do both. Gèng, did the red lines intersect at the centre of the planet, at a set point on the surface, or what? Check particularly what happened on the two inhabited planets.”

Leah turned to Wisp and continued, “While we wait, let’s look closely at the nine spikes and see if we can determine anything different between them, or maybe find something which looks broken on the two we think are misaligned. We should do the same for the two horns.”

Both Leah and Wisp had studied each of the different ends before Gèng said, “I’ve reached a few possible conclusions on the intersection points, but it isn’t conclusive with so little data. The measurements are not accurate enough at the moment.”

Leah said, “Good, what can you deduce?”

“I started with the two habitable planets, and I suspect the lines are centred on the planets. You mentioned gravity and I did some calculations. I suspect that both planets have a gravitational field that is less than it should be. The difference is microscopic and is possibly a survey error, but still, it was measurable. When I looked at the other planets, the same is true for all except the one with bubble. On that one, the line intersects the centre of the area Wisp mentioned. The extension from the horn on the portal is also centred on that area of lower density. There is insufficient data to evaluate changes in mass or gravitational field in the star. I conclude that the station somehow accesses the gravitational field from the planet and uses that for power or it shares it with whatever system powers the portal.”

“Thank you, that helps us know which mechanisms to focus on.”

Leah continued, “So, Wisp, what do we do next? Do you have any thoughts?”

“We need a closer look. I’ll send a drone out to get a detailed scan of all nine spires. We still need to find the power source and entrance.”

Leah said, “We’ve been here for an hour already looking at this stuff and only have seven left. The survey will take that long, and I don’t want to just sit here. So, let’s go look around the city and see if they left any clues.”

Wisp jumped up and said, “Deal. What suit are you taking?”

“Want to do a fly around on the Influenza A and then a walk with the Black Hole 4.5’s?”

“Oh yes, and hell yes!”

Wisp had her AI move the Betrayal closer to what they thought was the station while Leah headed down to the hangar to make sure the Starfighter was ready. Leah climbed the ladder and took her seat in the captain’s chair. Wisp wasn’t far behind and sat in the other chair which was just in front of and below Leah’s.

Wisp said, “Want me as a passenger or do you have a job for me?”

“Observer works at the moment. We’re looking for anomalies. You have a couple of screens in front of you so maybe put a thermal image on one and a 3D wireframe on the other. Once we’re off the Betrayal, I’ll set the cockpit to full visuals.”

With Gèng’s help Leah manoeuvred her way off the Betrayal and then changed the cockpit to full visuals. The walls, including the floor and the ceiling, became transparent. Leah then set the Influenza A for manual control and accelerated for the Space Station. As she got closer, she slowed and brought the Influenza A near to one of the large spikes that pointed toward the planets. The disc had a radius of three kilometres, and its height was six hundred metres. Leah asked Wisp to read the measurements for the spike. It was circular with a radius of one hundred and fifty metres, and it was centred on the disk’s edge. It was constructed of what looked like a series of five-meter wide metallic bands, and it vaguely resembled a segmented worm. Each successive band had a twenty-five centimetre smaller radius. Wisp said the plot showed three hundred bands which added up to a one-and-a-half kilometre flexible tube. Leah flew along its length and couldn’t see any marks, hatches, or anomalies anywhere on the spike. Wisp said that the twenty-five-centimetre reduction had been consistent and the final radius was seventy-five metres.

Leah said, “Wisp, can you superimpose the first scan images on what we are seeing?”

Wisp did so and they could both see that the original scans had the tubes, or spikes, being almost one hundred metres longer and other than ending sharply they seemed to fade out of sight.

Leah said, “I’m going to fly between the planet and the end of the tube. The first time, I’ll take the Influenza another hundred metres past the scanned ending, and then I’ll gradually move closer in. Make sure we are getting as many measurements as we can.”

She moved the Starfighter well past the scanned edge and then flew through over the end of the tube. As she did, she felt the ship give a little shudder and then they were out the other side.

Wisp said, “We experienced a force pulling us toward the spike. I suggest you don’t do that again.”

“Let me try once more, a little closer in. If the force is larger, then we’ll leave it at that.”

On the second pass, they experienced a noticeably larger acceleration toward the tube. Leah said, “They’re operational, and it looks like the station is powered by gravity somehow.”

Leah flew back to the base of the spike and began to fly in an undulating pattern from one side of the disc to the other, looking for anything that might point to an entry point. Although they saw what were clearly hangar openings and a myriad of other features, nothing stood out. Everything looked shut and there was nothing that seemed out of place. Mapping the edge took over an hour.

When they’d finished, they decided to look at the inner surface before checking the city. Before Leah brought the Influenza A between the station and the portal, she had Wisp show the scan results. Neither of them thought it would be safe to get near the tubes, but they were confident to fly around the outer half. Leah moved in and they continued to scan the surface visually with a whole range of sensors. The surface had a few hatches, antennae, discs, and handholds but otherwise, there was nothing different except a series of rails and groves which circled and crossed the entire surface except for the large clear circles which marked the position of the tubes. Wisp suggested it was a transport system and Leah could come up with nothing better.

They had finished the last circle when Wisp said, “Leah, can you repeat that last circuit? I want to repeat the measurements.”

Leah did and then moved the Influenza A out from between the station and the portal and began to head to the city side.

Wisp said, “Let’s stop for a moment, I want to show you something.”

Wisp brought up the wireframe and enlarged it so that it showed the very centre of the inner surface. Right in the centre was one of the large circular areas. They hadn’t been sure how they opened, but in this one, they could see the mechanism. The solid cover operated on the same principle as the mechanical apertures that had been used in cameras. It was visible because this aperture wasn’t fully closed and the wireframe showed an opening a metre in diameter.

Wisp said, “I think that is the way into the power source for the station.”

Leah nodded and said, “Good catch. Do you want to finish the survey or go have a look?”

“I want to go and have a look, but I think we should finish the survey first.”

“Agreed.”

Leah brought the Influenza A above the level of the station and in line with one of the eighteen features which extended out from the surface. It was trapezoidal in shape and had a base that measured three hundred metres and stood to a height of twelve hundred metres and curved inwards. The width at the top was two hundred and thirty meters. Leah flew around the base of the trapezoid, and it was sixty meters thick. It wasn’t constructed using the same principle as the spikes as its surface was smooth as if it was made as a single piece. Along each of the sides there was a two-meter wide channel that ran from the base all the way to the top. The channel also ran along the top of the disc until it merged with the next trapezoidal shape. The top of the shape was covered with something similar to hangar doors.

There were seventeen similar shapes spaced around the circumference with five more of the same size and twelve which were smaller. Leah said, “Gèng, show us what it would look like if the ends of the larger trapezoids were extended using the same curvature.”

When Gèng showed the plot, they all met at a point in the centre of the disc. Leah said, “You were right, Wisp. I imagine the smaller ones will do the same thing but not extend the whole distance. Some form of field is formed in the channel, and together they form a dome over the city. Let’s fly in circles around the city, slowly spiralling toward the centre. I’ll keep above the height of the tallest buildings. Let’s see if we can find another anomaly.”

The city was huge and was covered with a whole variety of different but beautiful buildings. The architect had a fascination with curves, towers and open spaces. Many of the buildings had areas that were either large gardens, pools or places to land a vehicle. When they had finished the scan, and the Influenza A was hovering over the eight hundred metre tall central building, they still hadn’t found something which called out to be investigated.

The survey had taken four hours to complete, and they had four hours left before they were due to log out. After discussing it briefly, they headed to the Betrayal which was stationed four kilometres above the centre of the city. Gèng helped land the Influenza A, and Leah and Wisp headed back to the bridge. They wanted to look closer at the opening before deciding whether to look for something in the city or work their way into the station on the other side.

Wisp had just opened the wire view and was expanding it when Gèng subvocalised to Leah, “Leah, George answered me immediately and suggested I talk with Stephen and an independent broker who George recommended. I gave a very vague outline without mentioning the game or the scenario but asked about investing in shares and playing in games. I did suggest that you may have found something unique. Stephen called in Leon and they all want you to stop what you are doing if possible and meet them in the Tower immediately. I suggest you invite Wisp.”

Leah got Wisp’s attention and said, “Hey, Gèng did some checking on the ideas you had when we first arrived in the ship this morning. Some of my friends think we should meet with them before we do anything else. Would you mind if we have a break for now and meet in the Tower? I’d like you to hear what they have to say.”

What Leah was saying slowly dawned on Wisp as she spoke, and at the end, she nodded and said, “Yep, let’s take a break. I haven’t been to your place for a while. Meet you there in five.”

As soon as she’d finished talking, she disappeared and was followed moments later by Leah.

THE STORK TOWER

Back in the Tower, Leah was about to head down to the lower floor when Gèng appeared and said, “They are all dressed up in business attire. Stephen and Leon are wearing suits, and the broker has a maroon knee-length dress with matching jacket and is wearing high heels. I suggest you dress up. I messaged Wisp and suggested the same thing.”

“What do I have? My fancy stuff is steampunk or Lady Elf. I suppose I could wear what I did to Ascendant.”

“Or you could take my advice and wear the casual white undershirt and charcoal grey trouser and jacket set I’ve designed. The shoes have a short heel.”

Leah nodded and her clothes changed. She folded the jacket sleeves twice and said, “Thank you. Now, before I get downstairs see if you can rustle up several loose bangles for my right wrist and a matching necklace.”

As she stepped off the lowest step, she suddenly felt the weight of the bangles as they appeared on her wrist. Stephen and Leon were sitting with a woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties. She was slim and had long blonde hair that reached past her shoulders. She stood as Leah approached, as did Stephen and Leon.

Stephen said, “Leah, this is Ms Priscilla Brenman, she is an independent investment broker who was recommended by George. I have done a background check which I had Reed verify. I have hired her as a consultant, and we have a non-disclosure agreement in place. She is interested in having you as a client. Priscilla, may I introduce Ms Atherleah Carroll who, if she is true to form, will give me another headache and have you working overtime.”

Leah shook Priscilla’s hand and said, “Welcome. I’m glad you could make the time to meet with me.”

She turned and greeted the two men and then said, “Please sit. I’ve asked Wisp to be here as well. She mentioned the idea of shares to me and is a co-discoverer of a potential new element in one of the games we play.”

Just then, Gèng ushered Wisp into the room and Leah went through the introductions, introducing Wisp as Annie Martin and as Wisp.

When they were all seated, Stephen said, “Leah, I wanted to have this meeting straight away because the rules for investing in games are still a bit too flexible and they’re too easy to manipulate by players, companies and regulators. The advice from George and Priscilla is that the earlier you decide to buy, the better. You should keep records of your thoughts and reasons. If you do, then you are in a better place to defend your actions. The closer your play is to your normal, the better. With that in mind, please give us a summary of events in chronological order and include why you think you might want to invest. I’m recording this as evidence for later if necessary.”

“I and some of my friends, including Wisp, play Cosmos Online. Wisp and I have been playing for approximately the same amount of time. I started just over two weeks ago. As a part of our gameplay, I came into possession of some research done by a government of one of the races in the game. When I analysed the research, I found some patterns that identified some star systems that might have a potential for exploration. Due to some out-of-game reasons, Wisp and I have ended up separated from the rest of our team. Two days ago we entered one of the unexplored systems and knew we had guessed correctly. The system has enormous unclaimed resources and an unclaimed space station.”

“Wisp has had some time in those two days to analyse some of the data. We met five virtual hours ago to discuss the find and Wisp mentioned that she was thinking about investing in some Cosmos Online shares because she’d read that they always go up with a new find of a space station and of habitable worlds. That was when I asked Gèng to contact you. Since then, we’ve done a more intensive survey and have fleshed out a theory about what we have found. We were about to follow our first clue and actually land on the space station when Gèng called to ask us to come here.”

Priscilla said, “I don’t doubt you in any way, but would your feeds clearly communicate the same summary to an independent observer?”

“I think so. As I say, we have a theory which I think is almost certainly true. We arrived at it by connecting the dots from the surveys we’d done. The feeds will communicate our almost total conviction, but it is still a theory.”

Priscilla said, “Wisp, would you add anything that changes the events or interprets them differently?”

“Not really. Up until today I’d thought the survey pointed to some big news and was excited to think I may dabble with a few shares. But if we are right, and I think we are, then if I’m able to buy some legally then I’ll do more than dabble.”

Stephen said, “Priscilla and I talked before you arrived and from what you say, you are both free to buy shares in Cosmos Online based on your knowledge to date. What happens from here on could change that. Atherleah, I hear a lot about you and Dunyanin but almost nothing about Cosmos Online. Who else would normally be told of your find?”

“I’m very, very, private. I would tell Amy but only after we’ve proved it or if we need some help. We’d also usually involve Zack, James and Thad but there are issues with Thad at the moment so I will probably not tell him until those issues are resolved. I hadn’t planned to tell anyone else, even if I buy the shares. I want to keep it a secret for some time. That is my normal play.”

Stephen said, “What about you, Wisp?”

“I’m as private as Leah. Once we prove the theory, I’d probably tell my family.”

Stephen sat back with a big smile and said, “So Priscilla, with that background, do you have any problems with Leah and Wisp investing in Cosmos Online with the personal knowledge they have gained from playing the game?”

“No. I’d like to hear the theory and then maybe offer some advice about the effect it might have on shares. But even if it is a new space station with new species, then the shares will rise.”

Turning to Leah, Priscilla said, “I have a business focus on shares in Virtual Gaming companies. I also play Cosmos Online and have some understanding of how the market will react.”

Leon spoke for the first time and said, “So do I. Now Leah, please tell us your theory.”

Leah smiled and said. “We have found a system with seven planets. Two are habitable, and they have different ecosystems with sentient natives. One of the worlds is a water world, and the sentients are water dwellers. There are two gas giants and an enormous asteroid field which is rich in metals, including heavy metals. There is a space station. It is larger than any so far discovered in Cosmos Online and is either Class IV or Class V. The station includes a circular covered city with an outside area of over twenty-eight square kilometres. The station itself is six hundred metres deep and has a radius of three kilometres. The station is powered by some process which uses gravity.

“Alongside the station is a device that is almost as large and if we are correct, it uses gravity and resources from the gas giants and the system’s star to create a portal which allows ships to travel directly to a number of other star systems. I would say at least eighteen. We found evidence that among the systems which can be reached by the portal are a handful of systems which my research also identified as having potential.”

When Leah had finished talking, she grinned at Wisp, and they watched as the other three sat there looking completely stunned. Then before anyone could speak Leah said, “So, Stephen, how is your headache?”

Everyone burst into laughter which released the tension. After he’d calmed down, Stephen said, “It’s more than a headache Leah, it’s a migraine.”

Priscilla said, “Leah, Wisp, you do know that every time you buy shares, there is a risk that you can lose everything. It can happen. I always suggest people only invest in what they believe in and never more than they can afford to lose if everything falls apart. Having said that, if you are right then when the news gets out, maybe tomorrow, or maybe in a week, the shares in Cosmos Online will increase in value, and maybe more than just a little. If you have available funds, I’d say it looks like a good, to great, investment. I can, and will, increase the number of shares I have in the game. Be careful with the information. You can tell your friends but be careful because as soon as this gets out, you’ll have to pay more if you want more shares.”

Leah turned to Leon and said, “You manage my finances, Leon, are you comfortable with the risk?”

“If what you say turns out to be true then I am more than comfortable. I trust you sufficiently that I’ll be investing my own money in Cosmos Online shares straight after I invest yours. Assuming, that is, that you want to.”

Leah turned to Wisp and said, “I’m going to invest. What about you?”

“I will. I did want to know how to find a good broker. I don’t have any experience and would love some advice on how to go about buying some.”

Priscilla said, “I’m hoping Leah will use me as her broker. If she does, then I am more than willing to manage your shares as well. I do get a percentage of the transactions, but I’ll waive them until you reach the minimum level I look for when taking on a new client. If the friends you mentioned want to buy some shares, or if your immediate family do, then I’ll offer them the same terms.”

Leah said, “Thank you, Priscilla, I do appreciate that. I’m not sure of the figures involved, but I would like to have a share in your generosity. Add half of what you’d normally charge Wisp, her family and our friends to my bill.”

Before Priscilla could reply Leah turned to Leon and said, “Please work with Stephen to appoint Priscilla as our broker. I’d like you to consider investing what you can in Cosmos Online. I imagine that Wisp and I will have the station and portal turned on and ready to use within a week if nothing world shattering happens.”

The discussion continued for another ten minutes as they finalised a few details and then Stephen, Leon and Priscilla left, leaving Wisp and Leah to discuss their next course of action.

Wisp said, “If we head back we’ll only have two-and-a-half hours, and I don’t think that is enough time to do much. Why don’t you tell me everything that’s happened over the last few days and we’ll head back to Cosmos Online tomorrow.”

Leah agreed and spent an hour talking over the things she’d been dealing with. She didn’t go into all the details or let Wisp in on her secrets, but she was able to share some of her feelings, frustrations, and pain. When Wisp finally left Leah, felt more relaxed than she had since her mum had been abducted. She sat reflecting for another five minutes and then spent the remaining time back in her study reading through some papers that theorised about time and how it was connected to space, mass, velocity, energy levels, and molecular chemistry, just to name a few. Most of them only found new ways to restate Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity mixed in with some of Podshivalov’s early thoughts on braid interactions, but they stimulated her thoughts and made her look at the situation from different angles.

She was still thinking about the problem when she logged out for some lunch.

14

December 15, 2073 - Part 6

REAL WORLD

When Leah entered the common room to get some lunch, she was pleased no one else was there and then felt bad for wanting her privacy. So, instead of rushing back to her room with the food she sat at one of the tables to eat. She was almost done when Conner walked in. When he saw Leah he grabbed a drink and a piece of fruit and went to sit near her.

He seemed hesitant, but when she kept silent, he finally said, “Hey, I wanted to thank you for getting Mum back. I saw your face last night, and Dad told me how hurt you were. Are you going to be OK?”

“I’m already much better, Conner. My shoulder still hurts and I have small twinges down my back if I move too fast. I’m much better than yesterday, that’s for sure. How are you coping?”

“I’m OK! Still mad about Mum and scared about what’s going on with her forgetting you and her still being in danger. Dad hasn’t told me what’s going on, but he’s almost more scared now than he was before.”

“It’ll work out, Conner. No one will stop until Mum is safe.”

“I know that, but you really need to fix this memory thing, and soon.”

“Why? What happened?”

“She’s freaking me out, Leah. It’s like I’m an only child and she’s all over me, all the time.”

“What else? I can tell there is something else you’re not saying.”

“While I was having breakfast she sat and talked for ages about the new girl, ‘Leah’. She said you were pretty and suggested I should try and talk with you. She said that if I played my cards right then in a few years, I could ask you out.”

Leah couldn’t help it, but after a moment of shock, she began to laugh. She tried to hold it back behind a smile but couldn’t. Leah wasn’t a big fan of laughing loudly, and it made her shoulder and back hurt. Every time she almost got herself under control she’d glance at Conner and see the look on his face, and she’d begin to laugh hard once again. It was a look of absolute horror, mixed with shame and a goodly dose of disgust.

Finally, Conner stood up and said, “I’m leaving now. Just don’t be surprised if she asks you to dinner sometime. It’s not because she likes you, it’ll be because she’s trying to set us up.”

Leah just started laughing even harder. Without Conner in the room her laughing stopped pretty quickly, but she continued to chuckle under her breath all the way back to her room. After a quick shower, she got into the Pod.

DUNYANIN

Leah entered Dunyanin and changed her appearance into her dark elf disguise and headed to the armoury to get her new set of armour. As she was leaving, she asked T’sar if she could recommend a cartographer in the city. T’sar directed her to a small stall at the edge of Batislar’s market square. The stalls were set up daily by vendors who rented the space on a daily, weekly, or yearly basis.

The small stall T’sar had sent her to had a table which blocked three-quarters of the three-metre-wide entrance. The table was bare except for a tablecloth which reached to the ground. As Leah approached the stall she could see another table toward the back, on it was a parchment which covered most of the surface. Next to the parchment were the usual tools used by map-makers to draw maps and to measure distances. Along one wall Leah could see several small racks which were half-filled with scrolls. She couldn’t see the cartographer until she was right in front of the front table because the cartographer, who was a female Yarim, was sitting on the ground beneath the level of the table. She was playing quietly with a toddler. They were pushing a ball back and forth between them.

The woman didn’t notice Leah until Leah said softly, “Excuse me.”

The woman startled and looked up at Leah. A look of terror appeared on her face. Confused, Leah was about to check if there was someone behind her when she saw the child. It took a moment for what she saw to register, but as soon as it did she understood the woman was terrified of Leah because Leah was a full blood Siyah elf with high rank. The child was a little female about two years old, with a skin colouring much darker than her mother’s. The toddler’s hair started out the same as her mother’s, but Leah could see a few streaks of white and the very ends were black.

Leah turned back to look at the mother and said, “You have a beautiful child, what is her name?”

None of the terror had left the woman’s face, and she moved into a kneeling position, looked at the ground, and in a whisper said, “She is called Rik, my Lady. If she becomes a woman, she will become K’Rik.”

The woman’s voice was soft and trembling, but there had been a touch of bitterness when she’d given the adult name.

Leah said, “What does K’Rik mean?”

It was evident to Leah that the woman thought she was being toyed with but she believed that answering was her only hope. She crouched even lower and said, “My Lady, it is as you see, it means ‘The Broken’.”

Elves throughout Dunyanin looked down on those of mixed heritage. Players sometimes chose to be mixed for the abilities that came along with the option. NPCs were almost never from combined heritages, although some existed to set in motion a particular quest or storyline. Leah had read several player reports where they shared their experiences. She’d searched for the information in the Dunyanin forums because of her own history. Dark Elves were more insular and isolated than their Light cousins, and they were rumoured to destroy any child who wasn’t pure. Leah was sure the developers had set her up by giving the woman a half-Yarim, half-Siyah child. She hated to think what experiences and memories the developers had implanted to set this scenario up.

Leah became angry when she saw the hopelessness and fear cause the woman to slump even deeper toward the ground and begin to weep silently. She was sure that the feed was being watched by whoever set this up and in her rage she wanted to suck them into the game and tear them into small pieces. She didn’t want to play their stupid games but knew she couldn’t leave the woman or child like this.

Leah walked around the table and knelt beside the woman. Leah reached over and using her fingers to lift the woman’s face, she gently forced her to look into Leah’s eyes.

Leah spoke quietly and said, “But she is not broken. She is beautiful.”

Ever since Leah had arrived, Rik hadn’t made a noise and had remained still, holding the ball, her only movement the turning of her head to look back and forth between Leah and her mother. As Leah finished speaking, Rik lowered the ball to the ground and pushed it toward Leah. Leah let go of the mother’s chin and shifted slowly to sit crossed-legged on the ground. She used two hands to bring the ball close and then gently pushed it back toward Rik.

The mother remained still, her only movement the shifting of her eyes as she watched the ball move between Leah and Rik.

Leah spoke quietly as she continued to roll the ball back and forth, “Where is her father?”

“There is no father. I was foolish and travelled through Siyah lands alone. A small band of Siyah attacked my camp one night and took my honour. When I realised I was with child, my shame was too much to bear, so I remained silent. I lived in hiding, alone until her birth. I planned to leave her in the forest as is proper when a child is broken. Beasts should live and die with their own kind and not among the pure. But when I first held her, I knew I could not leave her to perish. I am filled with shame for my weakness. I have brought dishonour on my family for I lack the courage to do what is right.”

Leah didn’t take her eyes away from Rik but kept playing their silent little game. After a few moments, she said, “A wretched tale indeed and full of despair. I would tell your story differently. Rik has no father. When you were younger, and with less knowledge of the world, you travelled through Siyah lands alone. One night some dishonourable, broken Siyah revealed themselves as nothing more than beasts, and they attacked you. When you knew you were with child, you bravely lived alone without any help to protect the family you loved. Although you planned to follow the prejudiced and narrow-minded thinking of your people, you had the courage to think for yourself. When you saw your beautiful and pure little girl, instead of punishing her for the evil actions of the beasts who attacked you, you had compassion. You showed courage and strength by keeping her alive and caring for her with love. You have brought nothing but honour to your family even if that family is only the two of you. That is how I would tell your story.”

The woman’s chin dropped to her chest, and she began to sob. As soon as she did, Rik, who had been holding the ball, dropped it, got to her feet and tried to climb onto her mother’s lap. Rik’s mother gathered her close, wrapped her arms around her and while Leah watched over them, the little family comforted each other.

While Leah sat there watching, she asked Gèng to search the Dunyanin site and see if there was any mention of Dark Elves with mixed blood. It didn’t take long, and Gèng said, “There are no references that I can find which discuss the existence of a person who is part Dark Elf and part something else, but almost every other combination exists.”

It wasn’t too long before Rik became restless and wriggled herself out of her mother’s arms, shuffled close to Leah and reached up to touch Leah’s long hair. Rik’s movement had been the catalyst for her mother to slowly gather herself together. When she looked up and saw Rik with a handful of Leah’s hair, she was horrified and looked about to pull Rik away before she offended Leah.

Leah smiled and said, “It’s fine. She’s only a child, and all children like to touch new things.”

The mother gave a wan little smile and said, “She loves new things.”

Leah said, “I know her name is Rik. I am Atherleah. Would you honour me with your name?”

“The honour is mine. My name is N’den.”

“If you will forgive my impertinence, where do you live?”

“I have a small home outside the city. It is a cave, but it is dry and safe.”

“Who else knows about Rik?”

“There is a female who lives with us. She was driven from her family because she was becoming a burden because of her age. Normally Rik remains with her, but today she is sick. The manager of the market square also knows, and he takes one half of my profit to keep quiet.”

“I have some skill in healing. Would you like me to see if I can help your friend?”

“Why? Why would you do that?”

“Because I can. Because it is a good thing to do. Because it is what I would appreciate if I was sick.”

“I will lead you there now. I will close the stall today.”

N’den packed away the map she was working on and her tools. She turned the table on its side and unscrewed one of the legs. Next, she opened a box and screwed a small wheel onto the table, replacing the leg. She repeated the action three more times and then lowered the table top, now turned into a trolley, onto the ground. She carefully packed the racks of scrolls onto the cart and lifted Rik into a small hollow she had created. She folded the cloth from the front table and placed it so Rik was hidden from view. She broke the large front table into smaller pieces and packed everything onto the trolley. Finally, she used some rope to make a harness and began to pull it onto the laneway.

Leah asked if she could help, but N’den refused saying she was used to the weight. It took thirty minutes for the three of them to leave the city because N’den was continually stopping to wait as people pushed past her. Once outside the city N’den moved faster, and within another twenty minutes she was standing outside the cave she’d made into a home. N’den had used rocks, mud and grasses to close in the opening and there was just enough space to pull the trolley inside.

Once inside, N’den lifted Rik out of the trolley, and she immediately trotted to the rear of the cave where an elderly elf was lying on a low bed edged with branches and made of cut grasses. She was covered with a blanket. Rik crawled onto the bed and lay down next to the old sleeping elf. The elf was a Siyah with short hair cut close to her head. Leah checked the elf’s health and discovered something new about Dunyanin. It seemed that as NPCs got old, they didn’t keep the HP levels gained during their lives. That she was sick was evident by her half-full HP. Although Leah could heal the old elf, it looked like her maximum HP would keep getting less until she died.

Leah cast Heal and filled the old elf’s health. Her breathing, which had been shallow, became deeper and soon the elderly elf opened her eyes. When she saw Leah she quickly glanced at N’den with fear.

N’den said, “E’ski, don’t be afraid, this is Atherleah. She offered to heal you.”

E’ski looked down at Rik who was snuggled close, and she said, “What of the child?”

Leah said, “E’ski, don’t be concerned. Little Rik is in no danger. I see nothing wrong, broken, evil, dirty, or cursed when I look at her. I see a sweet and beautiful child who has a small family here who loves and protects her.”

“Why are you here then?”

“I’m here because I wanted to heal you and to make sure Rik got home safely. I was at the stall because I needed a map.”

N’den said, “Which map were you after?”

“I love maps and will probably purchase as many as you have. What I wanted was one of the areas east of Batislar preferably one that includes the area around the ancient city of Yilinlar. I would like a map that shows the trail from Yilinlar to the Eastern tip of Yatan if you have it and one of the Kukurt Depression if it exists.”

E’ski said, “You seek access to the realm of Lord Geckiş?”

“I do.”

N’den said, “I have a detailed map that shows the East. I have one that has some detail of the area around the Kukurt Depression, but once inside the detail fades until there is only a blank parchment.”

Leah said, “I will take what you have, and it will be enough. I am also interested in maps which give some detail of the different regions of Vatan and any ancient maps you have.”

N’den said, “I will prepare what you have asked. Excuse me, as it will be easier to find what you need if I step outside.”

Leah said, “I can make a small light for in here if you wouldn’t be offended.”

N’den agreed and Leah imagined a small globe of light above where they were standing and then cast the spell. A small globe of light lit the cave. N’den began to prepare the maps and Rik got off the bed and stood under the light, straining to reach it.

E’ski said, “I have been deep into the Kukurt. For your kindness, I will help N’den prepare the map. You are safer to attempt that journey than to go east. The Günahkâr rule to the east and they are mighty warriors, strong, vicious, and evil. None live who dare travel through their land.”

“Your words are wise. I appreciate your help.”

“Atherleah, I am old and I no longer see the world as I did when I was young. Then, I would have looked at Rik with hatred and fear. All I see now is a child. I will die soon, and your eyes show that you know this to be the truth. What I offered I give freely, and I have no right to ask you for anything else. Even so, I will ask, for you hold Rik’s life in your hands. Will you keep her safe or will you let her go knowing that she will be found long before she can affect her own destiny?”

“E’ski, what can I do? I must continue my quest, and I cannot take a child into such danger. Gold will not protect her no matter how much it is. What do you want of me?”

“Take them to the lands of Light.”

“I cannot until my task is completed.”

“After it is completed would you care for them?”

Although Leah had no idea how she would do it, she didn’t even pause before saying, “E’ski, I will return and take them with me into the lands of Light. I will find a place for them to live in safety and I will provide for them as I am able.”

“Do you promise?”

“I do. I don’t know how long it will be, but when I am done, then I will come back and keep my promise.”

E’ski lifted her hand and said, “I accept your promise, Atherleah. Let me place my hand upon your head. I wish to give a blessing.”

Leah knelt down and E’ski placed her hand on Leah’s head. Rik came and cuddled into Leah’s front. Leah wrapped her arms around Rik.

As E’ski spoke her voice became stronger and lost its waver. It filled out and resonated throughout the room while her hand became heavier as it pressed on Leah’s head. She said, “Atherleah, Empress and Queen, Lady and Friend, Champion and Counsellor, Executioner and Protector, I name you ‘Outcast’. I Serseri, Goddess of the Outcast accept your promise to care for Rik, who is my chosen one. I name you her protector. Rise and accept my blessing.”

Leah stood and before her was the same ancient elf, but Leah could now see her identity:

SERSERI, GODDESS OF THE OUTCAST (Level 9331) 87067561HP 466550EP

Lady Serseri said, “You need not return to collect Rik. I shall see them safely to the Elfaun Valley for they shall be safe there. Give me a letter that they might be accepted and protected, and I will accept your promise as fulfilled. When you leave this cave, you will find a small chest. Inside is your blessing. Like Lord Umut, I name you my Champion.”

Leah bowed low, and Serseri handed her a parchment and quill. Leah wrote a note to Mirasçi asking him to take care of Rik and N’den and keep them safe.

When she’d finished, Serseri said, “The maps you requested are beside the chest outside. Both the path through the Günahkâr lands and that which leads into the Kukurt are filled with danger. I will keep watch.”

As she finished speaking, all three of them disappeared, and Leah was left standing alone in the cave. Leah walked outside and saw a metal chest and a bundle of scrolls on the ground. She picked up the scrolls first, and they all turned out to be maps. There was a map of Eastern Vatan which included the trails between Batislar and Yilinlar, as well as the lands of the Günahkâr. One map was devoted entirely to the Kukurt Depression and even had the Arch marked. There was an ancient map which marked the journeys of Orumek and finally an ancient map of Shenqi, the vast north-eastern continent.

Leah opened the chest.

Atherleah, you have been named ‘Champion of the Outcast’.

Reward 1: 1 Shadow Shield Spell

Reward 2: + 7.5% to all future Experience

Fame: 1000 Fame Points (265565)

The Blessing of Serseri

Atherleah,

Blessing 1: 1 Diamond Coin stamped with the image of the Pantheon of the Gods.

Blessing 2: 2,000,000 Experience Points (500,000 x 4)

Blessing 3: Lady Serseri’s Chest of Communication

Leah read through the spell and the description of the chest. The Shadow Shield Spell formed a solid barrier in front of the caster. Different words were used to change the shape of the shield and as the level increased, so did the thickness of the shield and the size and shapes which were possible. Leah could use the chest once each day. She could fill it with whatever she wanted and then by placing her hand on the lid and saying someone’s name, it would appear before them. Once they opened it they could take out or add to it whatever they wished. As soon as they closed the lid, it would return to Leah.

Leah also read through the spells she had received from Lord Kötü and his daughter. The spell of Darkness Dragonfire was like ordinary Dragonfire spell but with added damage caused by the addition of Darkness. The spell of Darkness Dragonscales was a defensive shield spell which replaced Leah’s skin with dragon scales of the same strength as those which covered the Darkness Dragons. The summoning spell was similar to the one by Orumeck, but it allowed Leah to call on the whole range of minions.

Leah took out the map which showed the trail to Yilinlar. After memorising the different landmarks, she decided to fly there rather than teleporting. She took Mĕi out of her pack and released her. Mĕi wanted to play for a moment, so Leah played a game of chase and run for ten minutes. When they had finished playing Leah climbed onto Mĕi’s back, and then Mĕi was forcing her way up through the canopy and headed for the clouds.

Leah directed Mĕi to fly closer to the forest and head east. What would have taken almost a day on foot Leah covered in twenty minutes. As she got close to the city, Leah prodded Mĕi to move higher and circle the ancient city so she could get a good look. Yilinlar looked smaller than Leah had expected, but she concluded that the forest’s advance over the years may have erased the outskirts. From Mĕi’s back she could see the outline of buildings covering an area of maybe ten or so city blocks. Most of the buildings were covered to one extent or another with vines. In the city centre one building stood taller than the others, and it had almost totally resisted the forest’s advance. Leah couldn’t see any signs of life beyond the verdant vines and the branches of the forest, so she directed Mĕi to set her down on the roof of the tall central building. When they landed Leah reduced Mĕi to a statue.

Leah’s new armour was already equipped, and she’d taken the medallion K’Calama had given her and hung it around her neck. There was no exit from the roof into the building, so she descended to ground level using the rope from the day before. She was tempted simply to teleport down but wasn’t sure whether or not anything was hiding in the vegetation. Despite her concerns, she reached the ground without being attacked. She moved her back against the side of the building and kept watching as she packed her rope back in her backpack.

Leah circled the building without meeting anybody or anything. There were doors on every side, but they were all closed. A quick inspection showed they were shut tight. Leah was more and more confident that her quarry was to be found in the building, but she wasn’t in such a hurry that she was going to rush in without reconnoitring first. For the next hour she moved through the centre of the city, checking each street and looking through many of the houses. The only one still secure was the large one in the middle. Looking through the houses she discovered they were empty. Not only of people, creatures, and danger, but genuinely empty. When the city had been vacated the people must have taken everything that could be moved; either that or looters had done a fantastic job over the intervening years.

Finally, Leah made her way back to the locked building. She checked each of the entranceways before choosing the side she thought was the most likely main entrance. The door was made of solid wood covered in fine engravings. They weren’t pictures and didn’t look like words or runes but were something abstract and beautiful. Whoever had hung the doors had been a master craftsman because there was nowhere that Leah could find even a gap through which she could insert her thinnest knife. The hinges, or whatever it was that allowed the door to swing open and closed, were inaccessible. This left Leah with the only option of picking the lock. Her only problem was that she couldn’t find a keyhole.

Leah began her search at the top of the door and examined each section looking for some button to press, maze to follow, or a clue to solve. She didn’t get frustrated or become agitated but worked methodically down the left-hand door and then up the right. She’d been in the same position hundreds of times growing up—not only when looking for a way into someone else’s home but when studying or when looking for information to complete an assignment. No matter how intuitive she was, some problems could only be solved by taking one step at a time and grinding through it.

When she’d finished looking at the doors, she began to work her way along the border. She started with the lintel which was a single piece of dressed stone, then the sill, followed by the jambs. As sometimes happens, she found what she was looking for in practically the last place she looked. In the past, this had frustrated and annoyed her, but she’d learned to see it as a validation of her process; she’d been correct, and she had succeeded.

As she pressed on the bottom edge of the second lowest stone which formed the right-hand jamb, she felt it give. She examined the stone and then after cleaning around its border and scraping it clean with her knife, she pushed solidly against the stone and was rewarded as it sank slowly into the wall revealing a circular depression in the top of the lowest stone.

Another part of Leah’s personality leapt to the fore. Sometimes she just knew the answer, like the knowledge had always been there. She removed the medallion from her neck and after checking the indentations in the stone. She placed the medallion in the hole, making sure the chain was positioned to fit in a small groove at the top of the depression. She pushed. It wasn’t easy like pushing a well-oiled door closed or sliding down a properly-waxed bannister. Instead, Leah had to push with all her might. Slowly the medallion sunk into the stone until Leah felt the mechanism inside finally give way and then the medallion slid the final centimetres with a rush. Leah heard a thunk from the door, and when she looked over, the right-hand side had swung loose just a few inches.

Using the chain, Leah pulled the medallion loose before standing and trying to pull the door open, but it wouldn’t budge. She took a closer look and noticed two small latches stopping it from opening. Moving her hands so she had one hand on either latch she pressed them and gave the door another tug. This time it swung open easily, and Leah stepped into the building. She was in a vast empty room which took up the entire level. She could see the other three entrances, but there was no visible access to the upper floors. On the floor was a large mural of an amphisbaena. It was curled in a circle and facing itself.

Atherleah (Level 316) you have entered the upper level of the Ancient City of Yilinlar

You are the first player to access this area and will receive an achievement for this after the following decision is made. From this area, you can either

A. Complete the Level 4 Dungeon - Servants of the Serpent King

B. Complete the Level 5 Dungeon* - Challenge the Serpent King

C. Complete the World Quest** - Claim an Ancient City - Yilanlar

Notes

* To complete the Level 5 section of the dungeon you must first defeat the Servants of the Serpent King.

** To complete the World Quest you must first defeat the Servants of the Serpent King and also challenge and defeat the Serpent King.

Which achievement do you wish to attempt? [A], [B], or [C]

Leah said, “I just want to talk to Somur T’kan.”

A deep sibilant voice echoed around the room. “I know what you want Atherleah. I will not leave my people. Not now, not ever. Go away or come and die. I don’t care which.”

Leah said, “Then I haven’t much choice. If you won’t leave your people, I’ll have to take them away from you. I choose ‘C’.”

Atherleah (Level 316) you have chosen to attempt the World Quest: Claim an Ancient City - Yilanlar

Many cities throughout time have achieved power and greatness only to decline and fade. Many of these cities lie dormant, waiting to be renewed and their power restored. These Ancient Cities are scattered throughout Dunyanin. Claim these ancient cities by defeating their current rulers and opening them to the world. You currently have claimed no Ancient cities (Please see player specific note 1).

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

Reward 1 if successful: (number of cities claimed) x (Player Level) x 10000 Experience Points.

Reward 2 if successful: You will be acknowledged as ruler of the city and receive 10000 Fame Points.

Reward 3 if successful: As a successful claimant you will receive a portion of all revenue generated by the city.

Note 1: Players will be free to challenge for ownership of the city.

Note 2: Subsequent loss of the city will not result in the loss of Experience Points or already collected revenue.

Note 3: Should you reclaim the city a second time you will receive no additional reward of experience points but will be eligible to receive revenue as ruler of the city.

Additional notes specific to the player Atherleah (Level 316):

1. Your claim of the Elfaun City of Dag Tarafind is not eligible to be included in this quest due to the unique nature of your claim.

2. A successful claim is part of your mission on behalf of Lord Geckiş but does not complete that mission.

3. A successful claim will impact the Unique Hidden Odyssey: Journey to Merkize. This city is not on your list of cities to claim, and therefore it is eligible to be added to this quest. It is however included on the list owned by another contestant. To complete their list, they will need to defeat you for control of the city.

Consequences of failure: Failure of your mission on behalf of Lord Geckiş

Atherleah (Level 316) you have entered the upper level of the Ancient City of Yilinlar

You are the first player to access this area, and with your choice to claim the city you have been awarded

Level 5 Dungeon Achievement - First 1 (4, Painite)

This is your fourth, ‘First 1 (Painite)’ achievement.

Reward 1: 5000 x 316 = 6320000 (+300%) Experience Points (5250000/5250000)…(934961/5450000)

Reward 2: + 4% to all future Experience

Reward 3: 4 x 1 Diamond = 4 Diamond

Reward 4: 5000 Fame (270565)

Reward 5: Increased probability of valuable drop. Luck is increased by 7.5% whenever you are in this Dungeon. During your first time in the Dungeon, the probability of all drops is increased to 0.5.

Note: This achievement will be published on the Dunyanin achievement forum.

As soon as Leah dismissed the messages she heard a harsh grating noise of stone sliding against stone. The mural was slowly sliding into the floor and creating a spiral staircase into the depths. One end of the amphisbaena was on the top step, and Leah assumed the other lay on the bottom. Leah slowly walked to the staircase and began to descend.

Leah was careful as she put her foot on the last step to avoid stepping on the figure of the snake. She’d not been aware of the danger until on the way down she’d stepped on the snake’s body and it had moved under her foot and almost sent her tumbling down the stairs. Since then, she’d watched where she put her feet.

At the bottom of the stairs was a portal and as she stepped toward it, a message appeared:

Atherleah (Level 318), you have entered the Dungeon of Somur T’kan, The Serpent King

You have chosen to make a claim for the ancient city of Yilanlar. To succeed, you must defeat the servants of Somur T’kan who dwell on the first four levels. You must also defeat Somur T’kan’s Royal Guardians on the fifth level and approach the King with a weapon in your hand. To claim the city, you must descend beyond Somur T’kan and enter the Royal Crypt. If you return from the Crypt, then the city will be yours. Be aware that serpents are hardy and their HP are greater than other creatures.

Level 1 - The Game of Guests (MOB Level 318-327, HPx1.5)

Level 2 - The Court of Courtiers (MOB Level 328-337, HPx2)

Level 3 - The Way of Warriors (MOB Level 338-347, HPx2.5)

Level 4 - The Labyrinth of Lords (MOB Level 348-357, HPx3)

Level 5 - The Gauntlet of Guardians (MOB Level 358-367, HPx3.5)

Level 6 - The Crypt of Corpses (MOB Level 368-400, HPx4)

Leah stepped through the portal and into an immense cavern in the shape of a cube. She was on a large ten-metre wide square block of white granite. Stretching across the cavern were alternating blocks of white and black marble. On each block, except Leah’s, was a serpent of some description. All were larger than Leah, and many had upper limbs and wore weapons. She could hear the rattle of the large rattlesnake watching her from an adjacent square. In the checkerboard-style floor, coloured stones had been inlaid to create an enormous game of snakes and ladders.

The Game of Guests

Atherleah, to exit this level you must progress through the room and exit at the far upper corner. At each turn, you will be given a six-sided die to roll. You will be permitted to progress the number of squares that is shown on the die. Each square is occupied by one of the many citizens of Yilinlar. You must defeat the citizen to earn another roll. If the lower end of a ladder is resting on the square then after defeating the citizen you may choose to roll the die or climb the ladder. If you decide to climb the ladder, you will forfeit your roll of the die and must defeat the citizen who is on the square at the top of the ladder. Should you land on a square with the upper head of a snake resting on it, then, if you defeat the citizen you must descend the snake to the square on which its tail rests and defeat both the citizen and the snake. Please step into the middle of the starting square to begin the level. There are one hundred and twenty citizens.

Leah stepped into the middle and was startled as every square except hers began to rise in the air. The very next square rose one meter, the one next to it, two metres, and so it continued. A red square die appeared at Leah’s feet. She picked it up and threw it. It bounced and would have rolled under the next square except it hit an invisible wall and rebounded toward Leah. Within moments it stopped, and the number four was facing up. An arrow appeared above a white square four away from Leah.

Leah was watching the rattlesnake on the next square, but it kept to the centre of its square. Leah walked toward it and then had to pull herself up and onto the square. Even though the rattlesnake didn’t attack, it did become agitated, and the rattle sound became more insistent and louder. Twice more she was able to get onto a square without its occupant attacking. Waiting on the square which the arrow pointed to was an eight-meter-long snake whose body was at least as thick as Leah was around her shoulders. Toward its head, it morphed into what could have been the torso, shoulders, and arms of a large barbarian warrior except they were covered in scales. Its face was triangular and positioned on a longer than normal neck which bent forward to look at Leah. One hand was holding a two-metre-long sword, and the other was empty, but Leah could see its claws which were as long as Leah’s fingers and dripped with venom.

CITIZEN FOUR - ANACONAN (Level 320) 153600/153600 HP (16000 EP)

As Leah crossed the adjacent square, the Anaconan rose into the air until it was balanced on the last three metres of its tail. Its body arched as if preparing to throw itself forward and strike at Leah. When she was three steps away, Leah picked up speed and leapt onto the square, diving forward into a roll. The Aanaconan’s sword threw up sparks and small slivers of granite as it slammed into the ground behind Leah.

At the end of her roll, Leah brought herself upright and turned only to immediately throw herself backwards as the Anaconan brought the sword around in an arc, aimed at her head. Leah rolled out of her backwards dive and stood upright. This time she was further away and had time to cast a bolt of lightning at the snake and to bring the Amber Dragon around to block the slightly slower moving sword. Leah cast Tangle and trapped the lower section of the snake. She unequipped the Amber Dragon and equipping her bow fired two arrows into the Anaconan’s chest before casting Summons and sending one of Orumeck’s warrior drones to attack. It was a battle of attrition, but Leah soon harvested the Anaconan.

As soon as she had harvested the Anaconan, the die appeared again. This time she rolled a two. Two squares over was another large snake, this one even longer than the one she’d just beaten. What interested Leah was the foot of a ladder resting on the square. Instead of a humanoid body, the upper half of the snake divided to support three heads.

CITIZEN SIX - HYDRYTHON (MAGE) (Level 320) 153600/153600 HP (16000 EP)

Leah could see the aura of mana around their mouths. Leah’s leap onto the square was much more effective the second time around, and she landed on her feet holding the Amber Dragon and parrying a strike by one of the heads.

The other two heads each spat at Leah, sending both a ball of fire and a stream of acid in her direction. Leah cast Shadow Chain Lightning, and while the serpent recovered she managed to wound one of the of the heads seriously. Leah cast Circle of Sloth to slow the Hydrython down but couldn’t prevent it from casting heal on itself. Leah finally killed one of the heads with an arrow through the eye. She was glad for the armour because without it she would have been burnt by acid several times. Even so, the suit’s durability had taken a small hit. The remaining heads struggled with the dead weight of their sibling and Leah soon finished it off.

Leah harvested the dead citizen but ignored the die and began to climb the ladder. It moved Leah forward four rows toward the exit. The ladder was sturdy enough although it did pass close to several other squares and in one place Leah had to manoeuvre around one of the snakes which moved people down. The ladder protruded past the edge of the square, so Leah wasn’t forced to somehow leap up and off the ladder. However, she knew that as soon as she stepped off the ladder, her new opponent would attack.

CITIZEN FORTY-SEVEN - COBRAZOR (Level 325) 158738/158738 HP (16250 EP)

The snake was red with the occasional band of black. Two-thirds of its long body was coiled on the ground, forming a circle with a diameter of almost two metres. The remainder was raised in a graceful curve, the head gently swaying two-and-a-half metres above the ground. Whoever had designed it had taken their inspiration from a cobra, and the distinctive curved hood began at the very base of the head and flared over a half-a-metre on either side of the body before tapering off near the ground. The edges of the hood resembled the half-moon shape of an oversized battle axe, and Leah could see a faint sheen of moisture coating the length of each blade. As Leah climbed above the level of the square, the snake’s tail also lifted above the circular base, looking more like a like narrow leaf-shaped broadsword than a tail except it was swaying side to side like the head.

With a sudden move, Leah leapt onto the square, but the Cobrazor was lightning fast and struck instantly. Even so, Leah had moved further than it anticipated and it just missed her, although its hood sliced through the ladder taking off the top metre. Leah wasn’t fast enough to avoid the hood on the follow through as the snake whipped its head sideways as it brought it back for another strike.

Leah’s armour partially resisted the sharp blade, so that instead of losing her arm Leah had a deep horizontal cut halfway between her shoulder and elbow down to the bone. Leah couldn’t move the arm, and her health began to drop quickly from blood loss and the venom in her bloodstream. Leah cast Heal, which slowed the speed at which she lost health but didn’t stop it. Her suit immediately began to self-repair due to the enchantments she’d included. She dodged a second strike and this time she was ready for the return attack and rolled under it. She cast Rain of Fire and then cast Darkness Dragonscales. The scales formed over her body and closed the wound but it did nothing to stop the slow spread of the poison.

Leah caught a glancing blow when dodging the third strike that sliced through the armour but couldn’t penetrate the dragon scales. The blow did, however, throw her sideways and out of range for the returning swipe. Leah summoned one of Lord Kötü’s Level One Minions, and while it attacked the snake, she cast a second Heal and got to her feet. The minion was cut in half by the Cobrazor’s next strike, but this time on the return Leah was better prepared and defended herself with the Amber Dragon. Her sword sliced through part of the hood, causing the snake to rear back in pain and giving Leah a much-needed increase in health.

Leah cast Dragonfire through the sword, and the blast scorched and turned to ash one side of the snake’s hood. As the Cobrazor reared away, its tail which was hidden behind the swaying body, struck from ambush. The sharpened blade penetrated both the armour and the Darkness Dragonscales and pierced deep into Leah’s left upper thigh. Before the tail could pull back, Leah brought her sword around and cut off the tip. She had to un-equip her sword to reach down and pull the end of the tail out of her leg. She had time to do this because her opponent was dealing with a second minion Leah had sent into the attack. Tangle and another blast of Dragonfire finished off the snake. Leah had to take a restore potion to stop the poisoning. When she was back to full health, she harvested the Cobrazor and then threw the die which had appeared.

Three steps later and she faced a Tigersnake, a serpent with a humanoid upper body and the head of a tiger. It was a blood mage with sharp claws. Before leaping into the battle, Leah changed her armour to the blue one designed to fight mages. The Tigersnake used the tip of one claw to cut through the skin on its forearm and formed the blood into a whip similar to the one Nemo had used only this was longer and thicker.

Leah leapt onto the platform and dodged the first strike, but the second wrapped around her torso. It didn’t cut through the Darkness Diamond Dust encrusted suit but it did grab hold of Leah, and she was tugged sharply toward the mage. Instead of resisting the pull she rushed forward and just beat a descending claw to be inside the circle of the Tigersnakes arms. Leah used her momentum to drive the Amber Dragon through the serpent’s heart.

Leah’s armour had resisted the mage’s attack, but it still left its mark. Where the whip had circled her torso the dust had absorbed the Blood Magic, and there was now a circle of deep red running around the armour. Leah harvested the Tigersnake and in addition to the skin, claws, and vials of blood there was a spell for the Bloodwhip. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to learn Blood Magic but could see how dangerous it could be. She waited for the die to appear but when it didn’t, she turned, and there in the corner was a large snake’s head waiting. She’d landed on a square with a descending snake. Leah knew she was expected to slide down the snake but wasn’t sure how to get on. As she approached, it rose higher, and there was room for her to slip past its head and put her arms around its body.

As soon as she did this, it began to descend and at the same time wrap her in its coils. By the time it had dropped down to the square where its tail was, Leah was surrounded in loops. It didn’t release her but immediately began to constrict its muscles to crush her. Leah unequipped her weapons and misted through the coils before reforming and extended her fangs. She started to feed. She’d forgotten the citizen on the lower square, and before she’d finished killing her ride, she felt the citizen’s fangs sink into her left shoulder.

Without pausing her feeding, Leah reached under her chin with her right hand and cast Freeze as soon as she felt the hand touch whichever creature was behind her. It died instantly and her spell also froze a part of Leah’s shoulder. When Leah had finished feeding she had to use a small ball of Dragonfire to remove the frozen head from her shoulder, and then she pulled loose the fangs which had been left behind. Throughout all this, she could feel excruciating pain as the venom slowly ate away at her flesh. Leah had to cast Heal five times before the poison was neutralised. Then she needed ten minutes to recover her health. She unequipped the armour to check on it and found that the holes caused by the fangs weren’t closing. The venom had eaten away or destroyed some of the inscribed runes. She looked around and was discouraged to find she was back on the second row and now only on the twelfth square. The die appeared.

Re-equipping her armour Leah rolled the die. For the next four hours, she went up and down the chamber. At one time she’d been on the highest level but had rolled a three and landed on a snake which took her back to the third row. Toward the end she was defeating a new snake every three minutes, many of them were repeats as she’d discovered that when she repeated a square, there was a similar but slightly stronger opponent.

At last, she stepped off the game onto the exit landing, only to see a portal waiting to take her to the next level, the Court of Courtiers. She checked the time and decided she didn’t have enough to do another level, so she logged out and planned to finish this the following Dunyanin day.

THE STORK TOWER

As she appeared in the Tower, she was surprised to find herself in the meditation garden rather than near her sofa. Gèng said, “Sharon is showing the reporter around downstairs, and I thought you would like to be prepared. Also, I have a request from Dunyanin for you to meet privately with one of their developers. The Dunyanin officials wanted it to be clear that this meeting isn’t for official Dunyanin business but relates to a personal matter, and they are helping to facilitate the meeting on the advice of their HR department.”

“When and where would I meet this person?”

“He would like to meet you as soon as possible and is happy to meet wherever you choose. I have the details of his private world if you are OK to go there.”

“How much longer does Sharon need to get ready?”

“About twenty minutes.”

“OK. I’ll meet him in his world. Tell him I only have fifteen minutes free.”

AARAV JOSHI’S PRIVATE WORLD

Leah changed her clothes, equipping a simple t-shirt and pair of jeans. Gèng created a portal and Leah stepped through to find herself standing outside an apartment door, which was the usual entrance to someone’s private space. Leah knocked and a thin man in his twenties opened the door and invited Leah inside.

Gèng took samples looking for any form of malware but couldn’t find any. The man put out his hand and said, “Atherleah, my name is Aarav Joshi. Thank you for agreeing to see me.”

He led Leah to a lounge area where they both took a seat. Leah waited quietly. Aarav took a few moments to compose himself and then said, “I wanted to apologise for the scenario I placed you in this morning and to explain why I did it.”

“You developed the scenario with Rik?”

“I did. I could tell you were extremely upset by the situation, but I had a reason for putting N’den and Rik there, and I hope my explanation will help in some way.”

“You’re right, I was upset. I almost logged out, I was so angry. I thought I’d hidden that. Is my face that easy to read?”

“Not really, it’s just that I have seen that look so many times when I look in the mirror. You see, I have a younger sister and she means everything to me. About six years ago, my sister, who was one of Dunyanin’s brightest developers, was visiting our parents in northern India and naively went out late one night for a drink at a local nightclub. She was beaten and raped and then left on the street. She finally got home around five in the morning. My mother didn’t even ask why she was late but started yelling at her and talking about the shame that she would bring on the family if she kept acting like this.

“Well, my sister took that to heart. She didn’t tell my parents what happened and when she got back to Mumbai she resigned from her job and kept everything quiet. I imagine by now you know what happened next. She got pregnant and gave birth to a little girl. They live in my sister’s apartment, and I am probably the only person who is even aware that little Hatisha is alive. I think the only reason she told me was she needed my financial support.

“My sister spends her time looking after Hatisha and watching the virtual universe. She doesn’t play, she just watches. She’s lost the will to do anything more than exist. In fact, the only animation I’ve seen in her for six years was three days ago when I visited. She lets me visit once a week. She was watching your feed, and she said, ‘Sometimes I wish I was stronger.’ I’ve tried a thousand times to get her to realise that she isn’t to blame and that she has nothing to be ashamed about, but she doesn’t listen.

“My bosses keep asking me to get her back. After watching her interest in you, I approached the HR department and for the first time broke a promise and explained why my sister had resigned. I raised the concept of putting you in a situation where you had to respond to all the emotions that my sister has. We talked back and forth, and finally, they agreed. I don’t think they really care about anything except her brilliance as a developer, but they did agree. Their only condition was that the scenario had to fit the storyline.

“After I saw your reaction I felt I needed to apologise. The lawyers were afraid of letting you know they’d used your gameplay in a way outside the scope of your contract, but I finally convinced them that it was a matter of honour with me that I try and explain. I don’t know what the result will be but my sister will be watching the feed tomorrow, and I hope she hears the truth of what you said because she isn’t listening to anybody else.”

As Aarav was sharing the story Leah’s anger had disappeared and she felt only heartbreak. Tears were making a trail down her cheeks as he finished. She didn’t acknowledge them and her voice was still and even when she spoke. She said, “I’m honoured that you shared your story and you have nothing to apologise for. Let Dunyanin know that there will not be any repercussions, although there might have been if I hadn’t been told. I’d appreciate knowing if you have success but will leave you to your privacy if that is better.”

Without waiting for a response, Leah stood and said, “Let me know if I can help in any way.” Then she had Gèng bring her back to the Tower.

THE STORK TOWER

When she arrived, she said, “You know, Gèng, if his plan works then for the first time I’ll think the loss of my privacy is a good thing.”

Gèng smiled and said, “Now I want you to hold that idea in your head and walk downstairs because Sharon is waiting with a reporter.”

Leah smiled at Gèng’s humour and started down the stairs.

15

December 15, 2073 - Part 7

THE STORK TOWER

Sharon was waiting with a young looking woman in her late twenties. The reporter was Caucasian with shoulder length dark blonde hair and dressed in a smart-casual skirt and jacket. Sharon introduced her as Erica Morrison and then said, “Erica and I were just discussing where the best place would be for the interview. We want to respect your privacy but also show that you deserve the ranking.”

Leah said, “What do you mean, ‘deserve the ranking’?”

Sharon responded, “I told Erica you either wouldn’t understand why this is so important and that if you did that you personally couldn’t care less, but I don’t think she believed me. Leah, the virtual universe rankings are a big deal. People have gotten divorced over who is ranked above whom. A lot of contracts have clauses related to ranking. Sponsorship levels are usually pegged to how well someone is ranked. Shopping worlds are ranked, training worlds, news worlds, … everything is ranked. So, as soon as ranking changes someone's income, power, or friendship group, to name a few, then the discussions start about favouritism, prejudice or corruption. I, as your PR person, want to pre-empt those sorts of discussions. You can be sure that other interviews are happening as we speak where people are trying to stir up that conflict.”

“OK, I understand what you are saying, and I’ll get on board, but don’t expect me to ever start thinking like that. If I do, then I order you to give me kick in the pants.”

Erica said, “I’d love to put that in the interview.”

Sharon looked horrified. Leah laughed and then Erica said, “But I won’t, mainly because people wouldn’t understand.”

Leah said, “What did you decide on as the best place?”

Sharon said, “Almost, we agree it may be best outside which lets people get an impression of your world which hints at excellence but is without all the details. If it were inside it’d be hard to choose just one place, and we don’t like the idea of moving from spot to spot.”

Erica said, “I found a place I liked outside. It has the mountains, the streams and the Tower in the background but the more I think about it, the more I think it will look odd just standing there.”

They walked outside and Erica showed Leah the place. Leah said, “Gèng, could you put a small gazebo here? Furnish it like a small outside lounge. Keep a similar theme to the entry pavilion and put a small garden around the perimeter so that the occasional flower shows above the railing.”

As Leah was speaking the gazebo appeared, and small changes occurred as Leah fleshed it out. Leah said, “I was thinking just a touch bigger than that. Could you add a meter to the diameter?”

Leah turned to Erica and said, “Is this suitable for what you had in mind?”

“It’s amazing. If you could add a few refreshments, then it’d be perfect.”

Gèng added several small side tables with cold drinks and small plates of finger foods.

Sharon looked at Erica, smirked and said, “I told you not to worry.”

She then looked at Leah and said, “I’d like you to change your clothes. A nice summer dress, a business suit, something that matches.”

Leah was thinking what she had when Gèng appeared. She said, “How about one of these?”

Three outfits appeared, all fitted on separate mannequins designed to look like Leah. The first was a white summer dress with a flower pattern, the second was a light, loose blouse with navy slacks, and the third was a sleeveless knee-length navy qípáo, or cheongsam, with gold embroidery.

Sharon said, “The blue and gold one.”

Erica said, “That’s my choice as well.”

Leah nodded, and Gèng made the dresses disappear at the same time as changing Leah’s clothing. Leah led the way into the gazebo and after they were seated Erica said, “You’ve been placed in seven rankings. I’d like to discuss each of them and get your response. I suggest we just talk back and forth. When we’ve finished, I’ll sit with Sharon and do an edit. I expect this will be out to the public an hour later. Are there any subjects you don’t want to discuss?”

“I can’t think of anything ranking related. I don’t want to discuss the previous disagreement with Dunyanin. I’d like to stay away from having to comment on anyone else if possible. Other than that, just don’t ask me about the stuff Sharon’s already suggested we don't talk about. I’m sure she had a list.”

“She did. The agreement I have with Sharon is that I have ownership of the interview in its entirety even if I only use some of it this time. As the owner I am able to profit from its release. In other words, I get the interview, and you get objective reporting and publicity.”

Leah nodded, and Erica started asking questions. Leah had been ranked 851st overall and eighth overall in Australia. She was third in Dunyanin and one-hundred and forty-second in Cosmos Online. She was ranked as the eighty-seventh best-dressed player and had the fifth most copied name. She was first in the Most Influential Newcomer category. The players from Asia took the first two positions as a result of the Merkize Odyssey. Meredith had fallen from first in Dunyanin to fourth. It was the first time Meredith had been out of the top three for almost eight years.

Leah was glad when the interview was over, but understood why it was important. She was glad she didn’t have to run the gauntlet of a hostile press room. She headed inside the Tower and logged out to have lunch before heading to Pneumatica.

REAL WORLD

Leah was able to speak with John over lunch. He had been keeping an eye on Mahigan’s attempts to board the Annoyance and shared that she had far more resources in the system than he’d expected and it was possible that she’d have a ship, maybe two, in place later that day to board the Annoyance. Six people had taken up the offer to look into Survival, and they thought that by that evening Lin would have enough information to make herself a weapon and to be aware of the basic things to look for when she exited the escape pod.

After lunch, Leah logged in and headed for Pneumatica. She spent the first three virtual hours looking through the information provided by Billy and making plans. When the clock in her suites struck twelve for midday in Pneumatica, Leah, already dressed, left the hotel and caught a carriage to Thomas’ store where she was immediately shown into the back office.

Thomas said, “Charlotte, wonderful timing. I’m glad we made it in the afternoon as there were a few glitches but now I think everything is fixed and is ready to go.”

“So, what now?”

“The installation will take half an hour. Let’s face it, this is a game and it could be instantaneous, but the half hour is for me to do my craftsman stuff and become better. I’ve a device to relax and anaesthetise the eye and ear. I don’t have to do any major surgery, but I do need to connect the optic nerve to the right places and hook up the muscles properly. I’ll have to clean up the top part of your ear to align it with what I’ve designed. You have the option of being put to sleep—essentially, you log out for thirty minutes but stay virtual. If you want you can remain conscious, you won’t feel any pain, but you’ll be able to feel, see, and hear what’s going on.”

“What do you recommend?”

“Logging out. I have to focus, so I’d be a terrible host, and there is nothing gained by staying.”

“Sleep it is.”

Thomas indicated what looked like a leather and chrome dentist’s chair and said, “OK. If you take a seat here, I’ll slip a mask over your face, and you’ll fall asleep.”

THE STORK TOWER

Leah did as he’d asked and after two breaths of the gas, she appeared back in the Tower. Gèng came and sat opposite her, then said, “The interview is already being shown on several of the networks and Sharon is thrilled with the final product. Do you want to watch it?”

“No! Besides my complete lack of interest, there are so many other things I need to do.”

“True. I do have some other information if you’re free.”

“Sure, I don’t think I’ll have time to get really into anything, so I might as well get caught up with what’s happening.”

“Amy called and said she’d talked with Wisp and was going to invest in Cosmos Online shares. She wanted your OK to let Zack and James know, but she agreed that it’s not a good time to talk to Thad. She said he has cut off all contact with the three of them anyway.”

“Double check that with Stephen, but I think its OK.”

“I’ve arranged an interview with the Emerald Trustees after your NREM3 sleep. They are sending a three-person panel to hear our case. If they accept it then one of the three will be appointed as the contact, and a different group of five will be appointed to complete the regular reviews.”

“Where did you want to meet?”

“I left the gazebo from the interview in place and thought it might be nice to meet there.”

“Good, anything else?”

“Yes, Reed and I think we have an idea on the person who could have set up the backdoors into the different security vaults if that is what they are. The vaults were designed by different software companies and installed on different hardware systems. However, both companies who developed the software for the World Bank and the Vault made use of an exclusive third-party code library. It met regulations because it was recorded as work done by a specialist consultant. The person who wrote most, if not all of the code in the third-party library also consulted for the company which provided specialised security advice to different hardware providers, including those used by the World Bank and the Vault.”

“If you pick those same conditions are there any other possible entry points into his private access system?”

“We have been very selective when searching because we don’t want to leave a trace that might point someone else in the same direction. Even so, we’ve discovered five more high-security storage areas which meet the same conditions and possibly one low-security facility.”

“What about the man himself?”

“From what we could tell he never has and probably never would use the access. His published security clearance is as high as it can be and whatever private security clearances he has are certainly even higher. Reed suggested it was an inadvertent combination, something that was serendipitous for us. I think the odds are against that. My own suggestion is that you won’t find the link in the low-security facility. I think the links are there as insurance and he could hack into the low-security area without being detected.”

“Why do you think insurance?”

“I took a deeper look at all the publicly accessible material on him without using his name in any of the searches. I found nothing except a vague comment in his high school yearbook. It didn’t refer to him directly but talked about the injustices suffered throughout the year, and it gave an example of when ‘a science nerd received top marks in the English assignment’. The school archives still have digital copies of all the assignments done that year and the winning assignment wasn’t about science but was a political thriller about corruption at the highest levels of business and government. The hero saved the day by finding hidden information.”

“I’d imagine such stories are a dime-a-dozen.”

“They are. In this case, though, the companies involved in the story are caricatures of real companies, ones that still exist. Reed did some research on the companies, and he can connect both to our suspect’s family and friends. In both cases, people he loved were hurt. One because of corruption and the other when the company ignored what was happening and then swamped the investigation with so much information that there was no result.”

“What is he doing now?”

“He’s retired and lives with his son in California.”

“Is he active in the virtual universe?”

“I didn’t search specifically, but he doesn’t appear in general searches of the influential worlds. I can keep looking but so far nothing.”

“If he knew what was happening, would he support it or not?”

“I don’t know, Leah. I can’t imagine he would, but apparently, people change.”

“Please send me the story and a summary of all the connections. I’ll read through it and then maybe we can come up with a plan. Is there anything else?”

“Not at the moment.”

Gèng sent Leah the material and Leah had just begun to work through it when Gèng said she was about to connect Leah back into Pneumatica.

Leah opened her eyes and was pleased to feel something move on her left side, but she still couldn’t see anything.

Thomas said, “I’ve got the eye covered at the moment. I want you to close your right eye, and then I’ll uncover the left, and we will make sure it’s focusing properly. Then we need to match it to the right eye. Once we have them operating well together, we’ll work on the special functions. Now, close the right eye.”

Leah did so, and then Thomas did something so she could see out her left but things were a little blurry. Thomas made a few adjustments, and soon the new eye was focusing as it should. For the next two hours, they worked together until Leah not only had her vision repaired but could focus her eye like a telescope. Thomas had a fitting which could let her use both eyes as a pair of binoculars. She could also use her eye as a microscope. Leah’s new eye had night vision and thermal imaging options. Thomas had made a connection which let her fit an optical device to any weapon which she could fire using the image from her eye without the need to hold the weapon at eye level. She could also fire around corners or behind her.

There was a small internal popup which let her see from a small camera on the earpiece. Her range of hearing could also now be augmented. The eye itself was obviously a prosthetic, but it was also a work of art. Small gears opened and closed her new eyelids and even changed the length and curvature of her new copper eyelashes. Tiny gems had been used in the design. Rubies, sapphires and diamonds would sparkle depending on whether she was smiling or not. If she was angry, different gems which had tiny reflectors behind them increased the strength of her glare. She could also minimise the reflection if she needed to be stealthy. Overall, Leah was thrilled with the outcome.

After thanking Thomas, Leah caught a carriage back to the Herrington. Once inside, she spent a few minutes with Albert because he had many flattering comments concerning her new eye and ear. She left a written message for Billy saying she wanted to see Billy the next morning if he was free, for she had a job lined up and wanted to be introduced to someone who might assist her in a little clandestine visiting.

Back in her suite, she settled onto the bed and then logged out. She took a short break in the real world, but she stayed in her room the whole time stretching and practising her Tai Chi. She found most of the moves were difficult because of her shoulder, but she still felt better after the small bit of out-of-Pod exercise. When she got back in the Pod, Gèng put her in NREM3 sleep for her daily two-hour deep-sleep.

THE STORK TOWER

Leah’s next conscious memory was when she opened her eyes to find herself sitting on her favourite chair on the lowest level in the Tower. She had ten minutes before Susan and Sarfaraz were due, so she finished reading through the information Gèng had sent her concerning the person they suspected might be responsible for the exit route Leah had used when exiting the vault.

The man’s name was Alan Hopper, and he was retired and living in a semi-detached unit on the same property as his son, daughter-in-law and their three children. Leah read through the material twice and had just finished writing a few tentative ideas down when Gèng said, “Susan and Sarfaraz will be arriving at the same time as the Knights. Shall we meet them at the podium?”

“I think that’s best. I was going to wear the dress I wore to the interview. Will that work with what you’re planning on wearing or would you rather I wore something else?”

“That’s fine. I’ve a fitted slate-grey woollen business dress.”

Gèng changed their clothing and they walked outside. They made their way in silence. Leah was enjoying the breeze and the sound of the stream and wondered what Gèng thought about at times like this, and was about to ask when three women and two men arrived on the podium. Leah and Gèng waited for the five to step down and then Leah said, “Welcome. My name is Atherleah Carroll but please just call me Leah. This is my friend Gèng. We appreciate your meeting with us this afternoon.”

Susan said, “You know Sarfaraz and me. These three are representatives from the Emerald Trustees; Mr Ernst Schulte, Ms Chiara Ricci and Dr Lis Díaz.”

Leah led the way to the gazebo, and after everyone had taken a seat, Susan said, “Mr Schulte, Ms Ricci, Dr Díaz, we shared a synopsis of the proposal when we arranged this meeting, but it was very light on detail. What would be the best approach at this stage to facilitate moving forward?”

Dr Díaz gave a brief nod and said, “Firstly, please call me Lis, those two are ‘Ernst’ and ‘Chiara’. We were intrigued by the proposal, probably more because of what was missing rather than what was in it. As you know, we focus mainly on providing good ethical financial management for those, who for one reason or another, are not able to have direct control over their assets. In common parlance, we act as trustees on behalf of our clients. We are aware of Leah who has been in the news lately. In the synopsis, it is clear that Leah is currently managing Gèng’s finances and she believes it would be better to hand this management over to our organisation. The assumption in the synopsis is that Gèng is unable, for an unspecified reason, to take control of resources which belong to her. Is this correct so far?”

Gèng answered, “That is correct.”

“Are you unhappy with the management offered by Leah?”

“Not at all, I have every confidence in Leah.”

Chiara said, “Most people look to us because they want someone they can trust implicitly to help manage the affairs of a loved one after they cannot do it themselves. Atherleah is already trusted implicitly, and she is both young and competent. Another enigma is that it was not Leah who answered the question. You did, Gèng. Logically, then, it is you who wants someone other than Leah to manage your affairs and yet it is clear you trust her. Why do you want someone else besides Leah?”

Ernst spoke before Gèng could answer. “I don’t think that is the real question, Chiara. In fact, the very notion of you asking Gèng takes us, I think, closer to our mystery. Gèng, why can’t you manage your own affairs?”

“I am not legally permitted to own anything. I cannot earn something that does not belong to Leah, I cannot buy something that does not become hers. I cannot do something to help another unless she permits it. Everything I have, in fact, everything I am, belongs to her. According to the law she owns my ideas, my contributions, my time. She owns me.”

Ernst said, “I see. Then you are a slave, albeit a loved one. You seek emancipation?”

Chiara said, “Don’t be silly Ernst, slavery is not only illegal, but it’s also been eradicated. Even if Gèng were a slave, then the law would be on her side.”

Ernst said, “Then Gèng is either mistaken, or crazy, and I think she is neither. Her words are lucid and she is clearly of sound mind. But let us ask the others. Sarfaraz, Susan, Leah. Do you all agree with everything Gèng has said, that she is Leah’s slave and simply wishes to be free?”

They all nodded and Ernst said, “Leah, can you set her free?”

“I can’t.”

“You want us to be her trustees because we will legally manage her affairs exactly as she wishes, whereas there is no law which would compel you to do the same?”

“Yes. I would do what she wanted, but that isn’t freedom, merely a semblance of freedom. Even what we want from you is not true freedom, but it is closer.”

Lis was slowly nodding and said, “Is this your idea or hers?”

Gèng said, “It is mine. Leah understood the need for it before I did. She wanted me to be free before I wanted to be but she didn’t force me to want my freedom. She merely showed me what it was to be free. Then, one day I made something, something all of my own. I created something beautiful that I enjoyed. Someone wanted to buy the idea from me, but I couldn’t sell it, only Leah could. I couldn’t say no, only Leah could. Even though I knew she would gladly do what I wanted, I realised that I was her property. Not in her eyes, never in her eyes, but in the eyes of everyone else, even in the eyes of my friends.”

Chiara said, “Both Ernst and Lis seem to understand, but I am still in the dark. Could you please explain?”

Lis said, “No Chiara, they have been very wise to speak as they have. Gèng, what do you want us to hold in trust for you?”

“I would like you to hold whatever Leah gives me in remuneration for my work. In fact, I would like you to negotiate a reasonable work contract with her on my behalf. I would like you to take into trust my ideas, for both patent and marketing. I would like you to manage financial accounts held in trust for me.”

Ernst said, “I believe we can get together and word the agreement to cover any number of situations which arise. Who will sign the contract with the Emerald Trustees?”

Leah said, “Gèng has no right under law to enter into a contract with you, not written, not electronic, not verbal. If you want something which will hold up in a court of law, then I will. If the contract is a promise, a covenant even, between the Emerald Trustees and Gèng, then I believe she should.”

Lis said, “Then I propose we do both. To have integrity in the eyes of the community and the law, one contract will be signed between Leah and the Emerald Trustees. To keep faith with Gèng and for our own honour, we will sign an agreement with Gèng. Will this be satisfactory?”

When no one said anything, both Ernst and Lis slowly nodded while Chiara looked puzzled. After an extended silence Chiara said, “I think I understand. Gèng can’t answer because she has no rights and Leah won’t answer because, in her eyes, her agreement is irrelevant. What a predicament to be in. Wait a minute, Gèng, is that true? Is it true you could not answer?”

“My answer, Chiara, may sound somewhat recursive. I could have answered because I knew I had Leah’s permission. Without her permission, I could not have answered. I believe I actually could have answered even without her permission. What troubles me is I wonder if that is because in her eyes I have never been her property and I have never needed the permission I was required to seek.”

Ernst said, “I shall take it then as agreed. I understand why you sought our assistance. I almost wish you hadn’t, but it was to champion such causes that I became an Emerald Trustee. I would like a day or two to talk with my colleagues and discuss both our options and yours. The issue is more complex than I’d imagined and we may need to be creative. If Lis and Chiara have no more questions, we will take our leave.”

When the other two shook their heads, Gèng said, “Leah and I want to thank you for coming and listening to us. We look forward to working with you if it is possible.”

As they stood up, Lis said, “I do have a question for you Leah, but it is nothing to do with this situation.”

Leah said, “Ask away. I’ve a couple of virtual hours before I have to be anywhere and I’ve enjoyed this discussion.”

“Thank you. Now, why do all four of you disagree with Chiara’s statement that slavery has been eradicated? Your disagreement was too intense to be because of Gèng’s situation. You are all rational beings and know why her situation exists. Yet all of you exhibited disagreement with Chiara’s statement. Gèng hid it the best and if nothing else it was that emotional response which commits me to her cause. Leah’s response was well hidden, but it was more rage than disagreement. Susan and Sarfaraz disagreed. Yet both should ‘know’ that Chiara is correct. As lawyers, their faces should be better schooled, yet they showed disagreement, fear, and disgust. I would like to know why.”

Leah said, “If you really want the answer then I’ll tell you. Please consider it seriously though. Sarfaraz explained how some in your company see yourselves somewhat as knights. You have a code, you’re quixotic without the impracticability. From what I know of knights, they are people who value personal integrity and personal freedom. They have a code and are driven to be involved. In other times you three might have lobbied alongside Wilberforce, marched with Gandhi, sat with Rosa Parks, or stood with Emmeline Pankhurst. If I tell you that Chiara is wrong and if I convince you beyond any doubt, what would you do? Could you leave it be? Or will you want to do something?”

None of the three said a word for a moment, then Ernst said, “I couldn’t let that go. I’d want to fight against it.”

“What if the fight means, such as in my examples, that you could lose your reputation, your friends, your family or even your life? Would you still want to know?

Lis asked, “Are those things really likely, Leah?”

Gèng answered, “You three are people who are well known and influential in business, finance, and politics. If you became too active, then I’d calculate the probability approaches unity.”

Ernst said, “Surely if I am the person you say I am then I must say ‘yes’?”

Leah answered, “No one is truly consistent, Ernst. We all have priorities. I don’t think it is right to steal, but I am probably the best burglar in my neighbourhood. I want peace more than anything but have no problems using my fists and knives to protect myself. Everybody has their price. All I’m asking is that you think about what yours is.”

Chiara said, “This knowledge. Would you want to know, if you’d been given a choice?”

Leah paused, then said, “I don’t know.”

Gèng responded immediately, “That’s not true Leah and you know it. That answer is your attempt to give these people a chance to back out with honour. Give them the freedom you want for me. Don’t fetter their choices. You don’t have that right.”

Chiara said, “I want to hear what you have to say but I have three young children. If doing something put them in danger then I’d probably stay silent. I still think I should know what’s happening, but like Gèng said, ‘Don’t fetter me!’ I can decide what my reaction will be.”

Both Ernst and Lis nodded, so Leah sat down and filled the three visitors in on the use of PAI to control millions of players and manipulate their lives.

When she’d finished speaking, Ernst said, “Thank you for telling me. I don’t know what I’ll do about it, but I will at least keep my eyes open. I imagine from what you shared that you haven’t been sitting still. How are you funding the new Pod centres?”

“From my game playing.”

“Would you accept assistance?”

“Yes, but like anything, it depends a little on what strings are attached. If you see the need and want to help, I expect there will be over fifty million people in Europe affected. I’m just playing catch up. You could get ahead of the game.”

Lis asked, “I have my own answer, but I’d like to hear your reason why you’re not advocating that the government do its job?”

“Oh, they should. I think they should do their job. I just don’t think their job is to do my job for me, nor is it to tell me how I should do it. I’m responsible for feeding my family. I’m responsible for getting educated. I should pay my bills. I’m responsible for helping my neighbour when I can. I’m responsible to feed someone who is hungry if I can. I’m glad there are government programs, and they should be stopping this. However, neither their activity nor their inactivity absolves me of my own responsibilities.”

Lis said, “We have taken up a lot of time, and we must go. Gèng, I’d appreciate it if you would do me the honour of visiting me tomorrow. Not for business, but socially. I’d like to hear your story.”

Gèng said, “I’d be honoured.”

Everyone said goodbye and the five disappeared. As Leah and Gèng walked up to the Tower Gèng said, “Did I offend you when I told everyone you were being dishonest?”

“Just for a second Gèng, just for a second. After that, I was too proud of you to have any other emotion. Besides, you were right, so it isn’t your fault if I felt offended. The fault for feeling offended would be mine.”

Leah needed to take a break and have something to eat so she logged out in preparation for what she hoped was the last session of fighting snakes.

Diary - 15 December, 2073 - Morning

I haven’t written a morning entry in my diary for years. The last time was the day I’d uncovered Jimmy Loo’s dark side. Or, if I’m going to be honest, it was the day I uncovered mine. I’d always known he wasn’t good, I mean, if he was good he would have stopped me being bullied out of the kindness of his heart, instead of asking me to break into places for him. Even so, I’d never seen his temper until then. It was the day Lillian Peterson was found all beaten up in her bedroom. She’d been assaulted by two guys who’d broken into her house, they’d tied up her parents, and then raped her.

I hadn’t actively worked for Jimmy for several years and was surprised when John approach me at school. Jimmy needed all hands on deck and was calling in one of the favours I owed him. He wanted the people who hurt Lillian found, and apparently, I was his best hunter. I can still see the look in Lillian’s eye when Jimmy practically dragged me into her room to look for clues. She looked… lost, like the look kids get when they can’t find someone they know. There I was, a skinny thirteen year old girl, and Jimmy pushed me into Lillian’s room and said, “Find them, Leah!” Before closing the door and leaving me alone with Lillian.

I kept notes of what we talked about, but I don’t need them, I remember every word, every sight, every heart-wrenching sob. Three hours later I watched as John and Johan dragged the two Jameson boys in front of Jimmy. I didn’t have to stay and watch the beating and maiming, but I did. I’d followed the clues and identified them, I’d found where they’d run to and some part of me felt that I needed to make sure they didn’t escape their punishment. I watched and part of me felt that what happened to them, was right. Again, to be honest, most of me felt that, and my concern is, I still do.

I think the police questions yesterday about the boy I hurt last year opened this door but hearing N’den this morning brought everything back. What troubles me is the ease with which the programmers could mirror that lost look, that look of shame and guilt, the look of fear, that look of self-loathing that reminded me so much of Lillian. How can a family? How can a community? How can anyone let a person live with that look for six years, and do nothing? How can that look become so commonplace in society that we all recognise it?

But my thoughts are darker than that. When I lost control of my body at Jackson’s party I know I only felt a tiny amount of the fear and shame that Lillian and Aarav’s sister have experienced, but the memory is still there. I saw a similar look in the eyes of the people on the Tempest and in Catherine’s eyes, and I’m so afraid I’ll see it in Thad’s eyes. Putting it all together and what I want to get down before it becomes overwhelming is that I’m angry. Dark deeds angry. Retribution angry. Maiming angry. And, it scares me…

16

December 15, 2073 - Part 8

DUNYANIN

After her break Leah headed back into Dunyanin. She arrived at the end of the Snakes and Ladders game and in front of her was the portal to the next level, the Court of Courtiers. She stepped through and arrived at the bottom of a set of stairs which led up to an open doorway through which she could hear the sound of many voices. As her foot landed on the first step, a message appeared.

The Court of Courtiers.

Atherleah (Level 318) Before you see the king you must navigate through the Court of Courtiers. Courtiers are well-to-do servants, wealthy citizens, minor nobles, aspiring mages, ladies-in-waiting, and military officers who spend their lives basking in the glory of the King, Somur T’kan. They attend to his needs and whims, they act as his aides, and they carry out his orders. They want to entertain him and if possible influence him to their own ends. Each of them, in one way or another, wants to get closer to the King. Some are honourable and want to get close for his benefit, but most seek their own.

A truth to remember is that the natural enemy of a Courtier is another Courtier. As you enter the room you will be announced. Everyone will then compare themselves to you. Be wary, for every courtier who feels threatened by you will want to kill you. They value their position before the King and will not want to give it up to you. You must exit the room at the far end to move to the third level.

Leah took the second step and hoped there was some limit on how many could attack at one time. If they announced all her titles, then she’d have to fight the lot. She prepared herself to be ready for constant battle. In her head, she rehearsed the different spells and went over the various creatures from the day before. The continuous fighting had been useful in many ways. One she particularly valued was her increased skill in summoning. She could now summon three minions or spiders at the same time.

As she moved onto the top step, she could see into the room. It was probably fifty metres wide and two hundred deep. The concentration of Courtiers was similar to the Snakes and Ladders game, so she estimated a hundred or so Courtiers. It was going to be a long fight.

As she stepped into the room a loud voice said, “I present the Empress Atherleah, Queen of the Dragonblood Dryads, Overlady of the Elfauns, a Noble of the Road of the Kings, Markiz, named K’lbimizin, Lady of the Forest, the Lady of Heykel, the Lady of the Deep Forest, Dragon Slayer, Kraken Killer, God Slayer, Slayer of Büyük, the Friend of Utzal, Counsellor of the Gods, the Champion of Hope, the Champion of the Outcast, Protector of the Chosen One of Serseri, Saviour of the Dragonblood Dryads, Ant Friend, Mage, Dark Mage, Beast Mage, Mana Manipulator, Ki Manipulator, Grand Master Miner, and Master Crafter.”

By the time the voice had finished speaking, every eye in the room was focused on Leah, every hand was on a weapon, every hood on every snake was extended, and she could hear the rattles vibrating on many different snakes. She had fought most of them before, but that was one at a time.

As Leah stepped into the room, the two closest reared up and moved toward her. She summoned two minions and sent them toward one while she fired several arrows at the other. She cast Tangle to help her minions and cast Lightning followed by some Dragonfire to finish the snake off. Then she stepped forward to kill the second snake. Leah must have crossed a limit since the closest snake began to attack, spitting acid and rushing toward her, sword at the ready. She cast Disc of Death and then Circle of Sloth. Two minutes later and the third snake was dead. Nothing else attacked.

She looked around the room, and all the creatures were still watching her, all of them with their weapons ready. They were also all creeping slowly toward her. If that continued, then eventually the number she faced each time would increase. The longer she took the harder it would become. There had been five in the front row, and Leah had killed three, with one left in either corner. She moved to her right and finished off a Level 330 Deathrattler. Leah had met these on the previous level. They were a large blue snake with a female torso and neck and either four or ten arms, each of them wielding a long sword. Their tails had a rattle which looked like a series of skulls that knocked against each other as they prepared to strike.

Leah decided to move to the second row of courtiers but when she’d finished off the first of those she turned to see that the remaining snake from the first row was almost within range. She concluded that the room was set up so that she had to finish them a row at a time. By Leah’s calculations, by the time she reached the final few rows, she’d be being mobbed by four or five snakes at any one time, and that was if she was lucky and hurried through the room. She decided not to use Chain Lightning just in case the attack brought ten snakes down on her. She also wanted to keep her dual wield spells until she really needed them. With her strategy decided, Leah began moving down the row.

By the time she’d finished the fourth row, she was almost out of Mana and Ki while her health was nearly half full. She moved away from the courtiers hoping to have a breather, but the whole room began to shuffle a little faster. She drank a series of restore potions and kept moving. At the end of the sixteenth row, she’d replenished her reserves three more times and still had another twenty snakes to defeat. The courtiers were now bunching up, and Leah wasn’t getting any breaks. At least three, and sometimes four, were attacking at any one time. As soon as she killed one another had inched close enough to attack. Her health was above eighty per cent, as was her Ki, but her Mana was getting low.

The longer she fought the more natural the moves became, and it seemed like she had more time between strokes to think through her options. She wondered if she was growing too dependent on her magic and decided to concentrate more on attacking physically. She decided to minimise her use of summonings and castings and pushed herself to move faster and to integrate more of her vampire abilities, this required her to unequip and equip her weapons rapidly. Having made the decision, Leah pushed herself into a higher gear and attacked.

She began to find small ways to improve her speed, like being more mindful of her opponents' health statistics. There was no need to pierce a heart or decapitate an enemy if their health was already in the red; it was quicker and more efficient to make a deep cut on the way to the next enemy or simply to shred their side with her claws extended as she passed by. Leah also learned that some enemies could be left alive as long as she slowed them down with a quick slash of her sword to sever their spine, or the rake of a claw to blind them. She could always come back to them when she had more time. She was so focused that it was almost a surprise when she found herself alone in the room. Every courtier was dead.

Leah walked slowly through the room harvesting each of the dead while she recovered. When all her different statistics were at one hundred per cent, she walked out of the Court’s far door. In front of her was another portal. She walked through it and into the third level, the Way of Warriors.

Leah was standing in a room with no windows and two doors. There was a desk to one side, and a six-meter Tigersnake was coiled behind it. There was a sign on the desk with the word ‘ADJUTANT’ spelt out in large letters. The snake was Level 300, and its colouring included five identical green bands circling its waist. It stared at Leah. Its tongue flicked in and out and then said, “Are you here for the Way of Warriors?”

Leah said, “Yes.”

“Applicant, that should be, ‘Sir. Yes, Sir,’ until you have completed the Way. Let’s try that again. Are you here for the Way of Warriors?”

“Sir. Yes, Sir.”

“What is your name, Applicant?”

“Sir. My name is Atherleah, Sir.”

“Remain here, and I will see if the commander is free.”

Without waiting for a reply it slithered to one of the doors, knocked and waited. There was a muffled sound behind the door, and the snake entered closing the door behind it. Less than a minute later the door reopened, and the adjutant said, “Applicant Atherleah, the commander will see you now.”

Leah walked to the door while the Tigersnake slithered back behind the desk. Leah entered to find herself facing a ten-metre unarmed Anaconan, which sported eight green stripes and was coiled behind a desk. It said, “Please close the door Applicant.”

Leah closed the door and turned to face the huge reptile.

The Commander had raised itself high above the desk and looked down at Leah. “Applicant Atherleah, this is the third level you must pass if you want to claim this city from Somur T’kan. You have entered the realm and made your way past the citizens and courtiers. Now you must show yourself worthy to the Warriors of Yilanlar. To do this, you must prove yourself to possess the qualities which we admire. We aren’t interested in killing you, or in being killed. However, if you are to lead the city, then you need our respect, or you will fail.

“This level tests you in five areas. Success in these areas is the Way of Warriors. We train that we might succeed upon this Way. We expect you to be strong, smart, and skilled. We also want leaders with a spine who rule to serve. To test your ‘Strength’, you must complete the obstacle course. To see if you are ’Smart’, you must participate in an evade and capture exercise. Our Weapons Master will check your ‘Skill’. Finally, your ’Spine’ will be evaluated on the Concourse of Courage. You will be graded in each area and must show an aptitude greater than sixty per cent of all warriors to pass this level. Are you ready to begin?”

“Sir. Yes, Sir.”

“Present yourself to my adjutant, and he will lead you to the start of the obstacle course. If you succeed I will meet you at the end of the Way.”

Leah turned and exited the room. The Tigersnake was waiting and said, “Applicant, follow me.”

Leah followed it from the room through the second doorway. They exited into a forest. The adjutant led Leah along a trail until they reached a clearing. Standing in a line were nine snakes of all different varieties. The first three were a Deathadder with four arms, a Cobrazor, and a snake called a Rockpytheros which had hard thick scales and sharp protruding plates along its back. Next to them was a bright green snake which had a well-built female torso with broad shoulders and long arms called a Boamazonian. Next, there were a Hydrython and an Anacobra. The seventh creature looked like a tall woman. It stood on two legs and was about a foot taller than Atherleah. It was made up of hundreds of smaller snakes who coiled around each other. For eyes, Leah could see two red snake-heads exuding from the coiling mass. It was called a Medusal Viper. The eighth was a Tigersnake, and the last was an Amphisbaena.

Standing in front of them was another Boamazonian. This one was a darker green and ten metres long. The adjutant said, “Excuse me, Sergeant. This is Applicant Atherleah. She is here to be tested on the Way of Warriors.”

The Boamazonian said, “Yes sir.” “Then looking at Leah, she said, “Take your place in the line Applicant.”

Leah went and stood at the end of the line next to the Deathadder. The sergeant said, “In front of you is the short half-league obstacle course. It is clearly marked and is straightforward. The elements before you, in order, are: A straight slither until you come to the first obstacle which is the tree trunk climb. At the top of the trunk is a platform. When you arrive at the platform, you will see a vine strung from the platform to the top of a rock spire. Slither across the vine. There is a tunnel from the top of each spire to its base. Navigate the tunnel. A boulder blocks the exit of the tunnel, you must move this boulder from the exit and transport it to a circle drawn on the ground in front of the tunnel. You will find a matting of vines in front of you. Slither under that and then cross the pool of water you see just ahead of you. The water flows into a field of deep mud. After exiting the field there is a speed slither back to the start. Full marks are achieved if this is completed in ten minutes. You fail if it takes more than fifteen. You may use any skill you possess, except flight of any kind, and teleportation. No weapons are to be used. You will begin in thirty seconds.”

The ten participants all looked down the course. When the time was up, the Sergeant yelled, “Start”. Leah got to a good start and was near the lead, with only the Tigersnake and the Boamazonian ahead of her. After a kilometre, she came to a row of ten, thirty-metre-tall tree trunks. They’d all been stripped of their branches, and there was a platform at the top with a hole in it for access. The two snakes ahead of her were already slithering up the trunks, their bodies easily gripping the bark as they coiled around the tree.

Leah had to think. Her arms weren’t long enough, and she wasn’t allowed to mist or use her knives. After a moment, she transformed into Ateş Maymunu the Fire Tamarin and swung herself up the trunk and scuttled through the hole and onto the platform. She then jumped out onto the vine and, using her arms, she swung along the vine to the cliff face. She was now ahead, as both of the larger snakes had some trouble working their way along the thinner vine.

Next, there was a tunnel which looked like it would be too tight for the tamarin, so Leah changed into the form of Katil Sıçan, the giant rat. In this form she scampered down the hole and was soon at the boulder. Leah changed back into her own form and pushed against the boulder. It was heavier than she was and she realised that all of the snakes were larger than her. Leah tried to wedge her feet against the tunnel, but she couldn’t get a good enough purchase. She double checked the width of the tunnel and took the form of Çevik Taklitçi, the Leopard King. Shifting her head low she brought her shoulders against the rock and digging her claws into the tunnel walls she pushed against the boulder, straining. Finally, she felt it give way and roll away from the entrance. With a few more good pushes she had the stone in the target circle which was drawn on the ground.

It looked to Leah that most of the snakes were now just ahead of her. The only one she couldn’t see was the Medusal Viper. She glanced around and saw some of the smaller snakes slithering around the boulder, trying to move it, but they weren’t able to get enough grip. Leah checked her time and rushed across. She yelled, “Make room.”

She changed back into Ateş Maymunu and, pushing some of the vipers out of the way, she wrapped her arms around the boulder and pulled. Three more tugs and the boulder was in the circle. Leah didn’t wait for the Medusal Viper to reform but changed back into her own form and began working her way under the vines. She was halfway through when she passed the Rockpytheros, who’d become hooked when the vines had shifted and been caught between his spines. As Leah passed she reached out and unhooked the vines before moving on.

Leaving the vines, Leah dove into the pool of water and swam across, just catching up with the Deathadder. The rest of the field was struggling through the mud. The Anaconan was in the lead, but its heavy body sunk deep into the mud and slowed it down. Leah cast Freeze in front of her, turning several square metres solid. As she walked carefully over the frozen surface, she cast a ball of fire toward the end of the mud pile. Reaching the end of the frozen section, she again cast Freeze. She continued the same sequence, and by the time she was halfway across, she’d formed a crust of dried mud for the rest of the way. She finished the rest of the crossing at a run.

The Boamazonian, the Anaconan, and the Tigersnake were all slithering toward the finish. So far, Leah had taken just over eleven minutes. She wouldn’t make it in fifteen even at a sprint. Leah assumed the form of Çevik Taklitçi and leapt forward into a smooth, powerful bounding stride which ate up the distance. She darted past the Anacondan, then the Tigersnake but slid past the finish line several seconds after the Boamazonian and earned second place with a time of twelve minutes and seventeen seconds.

She changed back into her Dark Elf form, and when she looked up the adjutant was standing in front of her. He said, “Follow me, Applicant.”

He didn’t wait but led Leah along a different trail until they reached another clearing with a big ten-armed Deathadder standing in the centre. The adjutant explained who Leah was and walked away.

The Deathadder said, “This test is designed to determine how well you think under pressure. This clearing is in the centre of a large circular area of jungle. Scattered throughout the jungle are forty of our best warriors who are highly skilled trackers and hunters. Your aim is to make it out of the jungle without being seen or caught. Your score will be based on how far you get before being caught. Have you any questions?”

“Sir. May I use all my skills? Sir.”

“The rules allow the applicant to use all their skills. Which skill were you thinking of?”

“Sir. I can Mist, and I can Move through Shadow as well as having several spells, pieces of clothing and jewellery which help evade detection. Sir.”

“Technically you could Mist, but that defeats the purpose of the test. I would like you to take the test without using Mist. Our warriors should be able to overcome your other concerns. I will award your final grade taking this conversation into account.”

“Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

“Your time starts now.”

Leah equipped her blue suit and added the cloak. This had been rubbed with the Ant Concealing Oil and had a fine sprinkling of Darkness Diamond and an Aura of Shadow. She slipped the Ring of Concealment on her finger and stepped out of the clearing. Moving quietly and sliding from shadow to shadow, she slowly moved into the jungle. She took the form of Katil Sıçan and carefully sniffed the area to see what was around. She could smell two snakes. Fixing their positions in her mind, she moved cautiously through the shadows making sure to bypass the watchers. Several more times she stopped to test the forest with Katil Sıçan's nose. Each time, she was able to use the information to evade capture. After an hour of slow and careful movement, she stepped out of the testing area and onto a strip of cleared land.

The adjutant appeared and said, “Follow me, Applicant.”

This time he led Leah to a large clearing with a big shed at one end. There were several areas roped off. In one of the areas Leah could see some archery targets. Standing outside the building was an Anaconan who was far broader than any she'd seen before. He was over thirteen metres in length and was Level 413. Once again, the adjutant explained who Leah was and then just walked away.

The giant snake said, “I am the Weapons Master of Yilanlar. What weapon skills do you use when you do battle?”

“Sir. In battle, I fight unarmed, with knives, fighting sticks, swords, a bow, a battle-axe, a haladie, and magic. I had a Morningstar but it is damaged at present.”

“The objective is not to kill each other but to determine your skill level. For each of the weapons and fighting styles you mentioned I will have you demonstrate your skills, face a warrior suitable for those attempting the Way of Warriors, or face me. Let us begin with unarmed combat.”

The Weapons Master lowered himself so his head was about half-a-meter above Leah’s and said, “Remove your armour and attack me.”

Leah unequipped the armour and attacked. After almost five minutes, in which Leah had landed a few blows and in which she’d been sent flying a number of times, he said, “Stop. I now have an idea of your skill level.”

A Boamazonian with a Level of 342 appeared, and the Weapons Master said, “Equip your knives.” When she had done so, he had Leah hand them to him, and after inspecting them, he cast a spell on them and said, “I have spelt both of your weapons so that they will inflict pain and damage that is not real. This will allow me to observe your skills. Proceed.”

Atherleah surged forward and moments later the Boamazonian was dead with a knife in its eye and one through its heart. The Weapons Master waved his hand, the knives appeared at Leah’s feet, and the Boamazonian lifted herself off the ground and again took her guard. Leah picked up her knives, and the Weapons Master said, “Begin”.

After knives, Leah’s sword work was tested both for single and dual wielding. The Weapons Master called forth different snakes, and at times he was the opponent. Slowly he worked through all the weapons. He tested the bow at the range. After he’d tested all her weapons, he had her demonstrate a variety of attack spells. Finally, he said, “Thank you, I have an idea of your skills.”

The adjutant appeared and said, “Follow me, Applicant.”

This time he led Leah into a long rectangular building. Inside was what looked like a small foyer with a door into the rest of the building on the far left side. The adjutant said, “This is the Concourse of Courage. Enter through the door. You will see a white line. Follow it to the exit. Be aware that the line has a course that brings you through three areas of the building. Each area will test your response to fear in a multitude of ways. Do not flinch or deviate from the course but simply walk at a steady pace. After you read the message that appears, you may start.”

Atherleah (Level 320), this challenge is designed to test your courage. In it, the Dunyanin AI with responsibility for the challenge is given access to all the gameplay you have participated in so far. Please note, Dunyanin personnel have no access to view or record the feed once you enter through the door. Your personal AI will have access to this feed, but we recommend strongly that you do not permit it to be broadcast in public. If you do not enter the door, then you will fail this level.

Leah stepped through the door. In front of her was a white line the width of her body but the building had disappeared, and the line was bordered by trees and large rocks. Ahead it disappeared into a cave. Leah took a deep breath and remembered playing ‘blinks’ with her brother. Leah would have to stand still with her eyes open, and Conner would pretend to punch her. He was seeing how close he could get without touching her while she was trying not to blink. She imagined that this would be like that.

Leah calmed her breathing and began to walk steadily along the line. As she stepped past one of the large rocks, a scorpion claw darted out from underneath and snapped shut inches from her leg. Leah slowed her breathing and kept moving. As she entered the cave she could see some trapdoor spider webs on the wall, and on the floor beside the line. As she passed them they flew open, and trapdoor spiders flew at her head just missing her although she felt their legs brush across her cheek. She walked on steadily. The line went straight past an opening in the cave wall, and a scythe came flashing down and threw up sparks at Leah’s feet. The line made a slight turn, and as she turned the corner Jason jumped out from behind a rock and brought his huge sword down on her head. It passed straight through her. Leah didn’t pause, her breathing slow and steady. She could hear the skittering and scratching of a thousand spider claws just behind her. She could see the claws at the edge of her vision.

The line went up some steps and exited onto a mountain. Leah followed the line down a path, and as she went past a snow-laden tree a huge snow leopard pounced, its claws extended, and it hit her chest but passed through her. Leah kept walking, step after step. There was a straight stretch of the white path making its way through a forest. Off to the left there was a sudden scream, and she heard Wisp’s voice crying in pain, “Atherleah, help”. Leah’s foot paused and her body tensed, but then she slowly exhaled and kept walking. Wisp screamed again and although her breathing quickened and her eyes started to burn, she kept walking.

She walked through the anthill and through the forest past the evil Bukalemen and through the different mines and dungeons of the Odyssey. She experienced the attack of the demons and Lady A’lev Sevgilisi’s cave. She was almost caught by the Basilisk and captured by Suzluk. She passed through the Deep Forest and was attacked by rapid vampires. Only twice did she falter. Once, when Thad was on one side of the line and Leah saw an Adamantine Mamba strike toward him from the other side. She was right there and for a moment her sword flickered in her hand as she equipped it and then unequipped it. The second time was when Suzluk carried a small child into the darkness and out of sight from Leah. Leah’s foot came down at an angle, and only the sudden increase in her breathing reminded her that this was just a test.

Just ahead the line almost ran into a wall. Everything else had disappeared. The line did a long U-turn, and Leah was soon walking up the pathway to the Ticareti clan house when the Patriarch jumped at Leah, eyes flashing and claws extended. She kept walking. Suddenly a steel arrow flashed from a nearby tree and slammed into her shoulder but passed through. The way became dark and she could see the Kraken tentacle twitching beside the path and then suddenly thrash and brush her leg as it slammed into the opposite wall. The wall became a dwarven hall, and Rana stepped out of an open doorway and yelled as she attacked. Leah's feet didn't slow, but her breathing increased. It was only after she'd left the hall and was walking through a forest that her breathing slowed.

Just ahead, the line passed through a Dryad grove, and Leah could hear the Elfauns attacking. As she drew closer, she could see them cutting flesh from the dryad. She took two steps at a run, then slowed and began once more to walk steadily. The forest gave way to the city streets of Tag Darafind. She could feel the Schamirii burrowing under her feet, and she walked steadily on as a Schamir burst through the floor and passed through her. She turned a corner and suddenly she could hear Zarif screaming, “Atherleah, help. Atherleah, ahhh.” It was overlaid with Büyük’s dry voice “What a tasty morsel.” Leah leapt from the path, and light flared to life overhead. Within two steps all that could be seen of her was a figure wrapped in Dragonfire and Shadow which doubled in height and then doubled again. In one hand a sword of condensed Dragon Fire, in the other one which blazed, crackled, and sparked as Leah cast, and recast, Chained Lightning, holding each in readiness until she found her prey.

Leah stopped suddenly as the scene disappeared. Her blazing head was touching the rafters of a long rectangular building. When she realised what had happened she didn’t just release the spells, she cast them away. The AI who was controlling the scenario was designed to keep everything realistic and so when Leah took all that energy and expended it inside the building the heat and blast tore the wooden structure apart consuming the material in seconds and raining embers and ash for hundreds of metres in every direction. Leah found herself standing in a shallow crater completely drained. She checked her statistics, and she had no Mana or Ki remaining. Both her Stamina and Health were hovering around twenty-five per cent. If she’d taken another step, she would have died.

A message started to appear, but she dismissed it without reading it. More appeared but Gèng dismissed them before Leah could even notice them. Leah slowly climbed out of the crater only to find the adjutant suddenly appear and say, “Applicant, if you would please follow me, the commander is ready to see you now.”

Leah was numb. All she wanted to do was to log out. Instead, she ignored the Tigersnake and quietly walked behind him. The trail he took brought them to the commander’s office, and Leah was shown directly in. Leah stopped and looked up at him. Her eyes were dark and full of barely suppressed rage, mixed with newly reforged sorrow and a deep weariness.

He said, “Atherleah, you have been tested on the Way of Warriors. Know this. Should you claim the city of Yilinlar, then the warriors will not stand in your way but will stand with you. When you leave this room, you will see a portal to the labyrinth of Lords. Take care, Atherleah, for the Lords are jealous of their power.”

Leah nodded and turned away. She stepped through the door and saw she was in a room with a portal waiting to take her to the next level. She’d been in Dunyanin for just under four hours. She saw she had hours five remaining but instead of stepping into the portal she logged out, arriving back in the Tower, sitting on the sofa.

17

December 15, 2073 - Part 9

THE STORK TOWER

Leah hadn’t moved for over twenty minutes and just sat on her sofa, her back leaning against one of the armrests, her knees bent, and her feet hooked under the second seat cushion. Gèng had waited for ten minutes before going to Leah and the second ten without saying anything. She decided it wouldn’t be healthy to wait any longer, so she said, “Talk to me, please.”

Leah looked up and said, “About what?”

“What you’re feeling.”

“I’m not really feeling anything. I’m just numb.”

“Then what are you thinking?”

“What’s the point of everything? I don’t know even what I’m thinking right now. I’m so mad I can’t think.”

“Who are you mad at?”

“Myself, I think. I’d like to be mad at the game, but that’s all it is. It’s a game. Just a bunch of electrons which are flowing through a solid matrix of different metals and bits of melted sand in a particular way. I fell for it you know. I somehow came to believe it was real. Less than a month ago I just wanted to know the truth. I wanted to understand the mysteries that I’ve walked through all my life. I wanted to look at the stars and have some understanding of what is going on in this amazing universe and maybe to find my place in it. Now, four weeks later, I walk past Wisp being tortured, and I don’t do a thing because I know it's not real. I let Thad die because it isn’t real. Then I lose my mind and leave everything behind to save a tiny piece of code.

“I think that’s what pushed me over the edge you know. Not that I forgot what was happening in the emotion of the moment but because I suddenly realised that the little girl I’d grown to love, who’d been killed by a monster, wasn’t really gone. I realised that the small piece of code that had somehow kept a part of me within it had been resurrected, brought back and put into a new scenario, just for the purpose of killing her again. All just to entertain me. I’m so disappointed in myself.”

Gèng let Leah sit in quietness for another minute before saying, “Is it wrong to preface a statement with another statement?”

Leah didn’t say anything for a second and then looked up for the first time. She had a confused look on her face. “What? What did you say?”

“I was wondering if it is wrong to preface a statement with another statement? You see, I want to say something, something I really believe but I think I should say something unrelated first, something that is universally understood just to set the tone and I wondered if that was alright to do if what I really want to say is the second statement?”

Leah had turned to look at Gèng and said, “You’re confusing me.”

“OK, I want to tell you that you’re being foolish. I want to tell you that the only thing you did wrong was to care and to love. I wanted to say that I’m just a bunch of electrons which are flowing through a solid matrix of different metals and bits of melted sand in a particular way and was wondering if you were sorry you fell for me too? I wanted to say that in the last four weeks you have touched thousands of lives and brought healing to hundreds of families, and I wanted to know if you did that just to be entertained? But when I realised you might be hurt, or angry, when I pointed out that you were acting like a self-indulgent, self-centred child, that maybe I should preface it with something that you already know is true. Something like, ‘Leah, you know I love you.’ Or ‘Leah, you know I’d never want to hurt you.’ So, is it OK or is it wrong to preface a statement with another statement?”

Leah sheepishly looked over at Gèng, and slowly a grin appeared on her face. She said, “Really, are you sure you want to go with ‘a self-indulgent, self-centred child?’ I mean, that is such a cliché.”

There was silence for a minute, then Leah said, “I’m sorry Gèng. I count knowing you and loving you as one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. You’re not a ‘just’ anything. You’re Gèng. Friend! Sister! And all around amazingly accurate backside-kicker. You’re right. It’s not for entertainment, even if it is sometimes fun. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I should probably head back and finish the levels, but I need a break first. I’m going to log out and have a warm shower and get a bite to eat.”

COSMOS ONLINE

Leah logged out and was about to get out of the Pod when Gèng said, “Leah, John just sent a message. He’s in Cosmos Online, and the Annoyance is about to be boarded. He wants to know if you want to watch?”

Leah lay back down and was soon stepping through her first Cosmos Online portal and found herself in the seat of her Pulsar Class Fighter. She’d powered it down and now she carefully powered up the minimal passive and internal systems. Her port screen slowly showed her John in the Quasar Quad fighter travelling along a parallel ballistic course. He initiated a whisper-thin directed connection to Leah’s fighter and said, “Look at ten o’clock and down about 25 degrees. They’ve brought two ships alongside and matched the rotations. They’re almost in position to send someone across. I don’t expect them to have any problems, but I thought you might like to see it.”

Leah found the three ships with the Annoyance in the centre. She increased the magnification, and she could see someone leave the vessel closest to the main hatch. Whoever they were, they were using their suit thrusters to manoeuvre. Leah said, “I appreciate the invitation. I was all out of sorts, and this is kinda fun to watch.”

The suit slowed until it was right alongside the door. The person in the suit attached their safety harness to the ship and then whoever it was reached down beside their leg and pulled loose a long strip of something and pressed it against the side of the hatch. Leah said, “What is that, John? I gave her the Owner’s Chip.”

“Maybe it’s a sensor strip?”

The spacer pulled another three strips and pressed them around the edges of the hatch.

Leah said, “This is not good John, not good at all.”

“What?”

“We’re talking about Mahigan here. What would she do if that ship was for me?”

“She'd make sure it blew you to hell and back.”

“Yep, but how would she make sure it was me?”

“She couldn’t. Anyone could use the chip.”

“True, if we’re talking about me. I’d have no trouble giving you the chip. How many people do you think Mahigan trusts in the whole wide world?”

“Ah. She’s going to make sure she’s safe by letting someone else take the risk. They’ll burn through the door, and when she knows it’s safe, then she’ll go over.”

“Yup, but they didn’t figure on good old John. John who had to do some really quick and hasty rewiring. He who, if I remember right, used a small conduit that ran right past the main hatch to hide one of the undetectable wires he installed.”

John chuckled, “Yep that he did. Damn that John. You know, I’m kind of glad I get to watch this.”

“In some weird way so am I. I’m already recording it and saving it for posterity. But John, you know and I know, that the fault here is hers. Well, not really, because we did really plan to blow her up. But, who do you think she will blame?”

Whatever John was planning to say was instantly forgotten as the explosives and missiles that John had so carefully prepared and hidden blew the Annoyance, and both of Mahigan’s ships, into atomic-sized particles. The brief flash of light caused both of them to turn away. By the time their watering eyes had recovered enough to focus on their screens, there was nothing visible but empty space.

John said, “I’m sorry, Leah.”

“What for?”

“Well, I just blew up your first ever spaceship.”

“That’s OK John, I haven’t told you yet, but I have new toys to play with.”

“Well good, great, then I don’t feel so bad.”

“Me neither, but I do have a question?”

“What?”

“Do you think she was waiting in one of the other ships until it was safe?”

John didn’t stop laughing while they both shut down their fighters. Finally, he said, “Meet you in the common room for a cup of coffee, and maybe you can tell me about your new toys?”

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

With that, they both logged out, and Leah also exited her Pod. After a quick shower she headed out to meet John.

REAL LIFE

John wasn't in the common room when Leah arrived, so she got herself a cup of coffee and made a second for him, just the way he liked it. She’d just sat down when John walked in. He noticed the two cups but headed to the refrigerator and a minute later sat down next to Leah with two large slices of chocolate cake.

He said, “This is left over from afternoon tea, and it is the best thing to celebrate my skillset.”

Leah leant over and grabbed the piece that was slightly larger and said, “While I agree with the sentiment, I am a bit concerned at the sheer extravagance of having chocolate cake for no special reason except afternoon tea. Who’s the sucker footing the bill for all this?”

“Some rich eccentric. She’s all beauty and no brains. Spends all her time at the salon, so I’m sure we won’t get caught.”

“She sounds like a real B.”

“Don’t ever say that when she’s around. She hates that word, goes ballistic every time. She has no sense of humour.”

“Ha, I do too have a sense of humour. Besides, Gèng called me worse than that tonight.”

“What? Gèng is the nicest and most polite person I know. What could she possibly have said that’s worse? Whatever it was I’d have to say you must have deserved it.”

“She said I was acting like a self-indulgent and self-centred child.”

“You threw a tantrum.”

“Kinda.”

“Someone did something terrible.”

“Yep.”

“So you had a really good reason to be angry at someone, but instead you blamed yourself.”

“Something like that.”

“So you were acting like a self-indulgent and self-centred child?”

“Yep.”

“You feeling better?”

“I think so. If Mum wasn’t as isolated in Survival as it seems she is then I’d be scared. It will mean we have to work harder to find the location of the AI. I’ll get together with Gèng and Reed. I might even think about waking up Akia.”

John paused with the last of his chocolate cake inches from his mouth and asked, “What do you think Meredith will do?”

“She’ll throw a tantrum and act like a self-indulgent and self-centred child.”

John sprayed cake everywhere as he burst into laughter. Looking up, he found Leah covered with a spray of moistened crumbs. He burst out laughing again. Leah had to use the sink to clean up while John cleaned up the table and the floor behind Leah. John said, “Thanks for the laugh, Leah. It’s good to see you without the mask of pain or the weight of the world.”

“I needed a good laugh myself, although I’ll also need to wash my hair.”

“So what are the new toys?”

Leah explained what she and Wisp had found and what it might mean. John said, “Can anyone invest?”

“Yeah, pretty much. I don’t want everyone to know because we need time to make sure we claim it properly. Why?”

“Well, Jen and I have a little saved up, and if its that good a deal then I’ll discuss it with her if you don’t mind.”

“John, regardless of what everyone says, remember, it is still a risk. Other than that, go ahead and tell Jen. I still can’t believe she’s slumming with you.”

“Neither can I Leah, neither can I.”

“Should I tell Jimmy?”

“Do you trust him?”

“With my life? Yes! With my family? Yes! With money on the table? Not so much!”

“Then I’d wait until just before you think the story will break and then give him a heads up.”

“Good idea. I’d better head back.”

“Me too. I’ll be out again in an hour. That’s when your mum gets out. Your dad and I will go through everything with her and set the group some goals for tomorrow."

Leah waved goodbye and walked to her room. She undressed and threw her clothes in the basket to be washed. She took out some clean clothes and lay them on the bed she never used. In fact, she didn’t use most of the suite. The small kitchen was empty, but if she couldn’t eat at home, maybe she’d restock the small fridge and the pantry. She had a few books, but she hadn’t read a real book for weeks. She headed for the shower and washed her hair. After her shower Leah stepped out of her small bathroom and headed toward her Pod.

Fifteen minutes earlier and just over eight-hundred meters to the west, Troy Henson had received an irate voice message screaming at him to ‘kill the bitch’. Troy had been prepared for this very thing for the last two weeks. He’d chosen his hideout because the security people from the Pod Facility only did regular patrols out to five-hundred metres from the property line and he hadn’t seen them come within a hundred metres of the old abandoned building that he’d chosen for his ‘nest’. It had previously been part of a car-wrecking business.

In addition to the human patrols, his target was protected by an effective electronic surveillance system. Others in his organisation had only managed to get a drone within two hundred metres of the property line before it was identified and attacked. Troy’s ‘nest’ was on the top level of the building and his weapon had a clear line of sight to the room where the target spent most of her time.

Troy had always wanted to be a sniper, but it was only with the newest technology that he’d even had a chance. The weapon he’d been given let him kill from a distance far in excess of his meagre skills. He’d aligned the weapon on the first day, and it was aimed at the target’s window. His employers wanted anonymity and that meant he needed to escape without detection. Because the government employed an effective weapons discharge detection system and had immediate-response satellite-directed tactical units always ready for deployment, he’d set the evasion setting on the weapon to high. The target’s security might identify the weapon’s discharge, and they might record the projectile’s flight, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it, and they didn’t have the resources to catch him.

When the evasion setting was ‘high’, the weapon used a variety of acoustic, electronic and mechanical measures to remove the majority of the optical and thermal flashes produced by the exploding propellant. They also removed the associated impulse sound-wave and the initial pressure-wave produced by the projectile. Unfortunately, or so Troy believed, the pressure wave could still be detected once the projectile had travelled more than three metres. The magnitude of the pressure wave itself, however, could be reduced below official detection parameters by limiting the projectile's velocity and by streamlining its profile. With the target set at nine hundred metres, the most effective reduction was achieved in decreasing the projectile’s profile. The weapon AI chose a triple-shot three-millimetre ballistic-tip hollow-point long-range controlled-burn smart-assist thirty-millimetre needle.

This was a long, thin and pointed projectile which created a pressure-wave undetectable by most government systems. The actual ‘bullet’ or ‘needle’ was thirty millimetres long with a rear diameter of three millimetres. The front end had a diameter of one point two millimetres and was hollow with an internal scoring pattern designed so that the needle expanded on impact, thereby increasing the damage. A centimetre-long piece of sharpened plastic was inserted into the hollowed end to improve the needle’s ballistic profile; this plastic disintegrated on impact leaving behind the expanding needle.

Newtonian physics couldn’t be overcome, but its effects could be minimised, so in addition to a conventional casing, which contained the initial propellant, two further sections were added to the projectile. Immediately in front of the conventional primary casing was a secondary casing whose components were designed to be consumed at a controlled rate to offset the loss of velocity due to frictional drag. Between the secondary casing and the back of the needle was an inbuilt mini-CPU connected to a gyroscope, a geo-locator, an altimeter, and twenty controllable fins, or wings. It wasn’t guided, per se, but it had a limited ability to maintain the predicted flight path. Three of these needles would be fired automatically by the weapon when Troy gave the order.

Once the general target and evasion settings were assigned, all Troy had to do was pinpoint the precise target. The weapon was connected to a sophisticated imaging system which built up a model of the facility using data collected from a diverse array of sensors and data sources. Some of these included the building’s blueprints, a geological survey of the area, satellite imagery, thermal imaging, radar, seismic sensors, optical lasers for recording the vibrations of windows, water usage readings, electrical use, and even the physical description, schedule and habits of everyone to enter or leave the building. The data was sent to a sophisticated AI with access to a comprehensive suite of modelling algorithms. Over time, it constructed an increasingly precise real-time predictive model of the Pod facility. With over two weeks of data, it was capable of ‘showing’ the target in her room.

Troy checked that the weapon was connected to the targeting system and then highlighted the target who was entering her room. The system had the target’s full body scans, and Troy expanded the picture and highlighted the centre of Leah’s heart. The weapon used the information from the targeting system, including the type, composition, width and expected angles of the window and curtain, as well as Leah’s velocity and gait. It then applied real-time sensor and satellite data on the local wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, and pollution levels. The data it received was detailed enough to include gradients for all these readings between Troy's weapon and Leah’s room.

As Leah removed her clothes the weapon made continual minute adjustments to the projected flight path. When Leah left the bathroom she turned toward her Pod. There was nothing except the window and curtain between her and the weapon. Troy pressed fire. The weapon updated the flight plan to the projectiles, and with only minute adjustments it fired three needles at a speed of 912 metres per second toward Leah.

John took his responsibility for security seriously, and with Leah’s newfound wealth he’d installed a new security system designed for corporate facilities. It was off-the-shelf but high-end for their sized compound. Both active and passive sensors recorded data around the entire perimeter. The system analysed every sound and motion within line-of-sight. It recorded temperature changes, seismic movements, air pressure, and the whole spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. Publicly available satellite footage, weather information, and social media were scanned. The data was analysed by the system’s AI, and according to its programming it either ignored the data, advised the people on patrol, advised John, issued an alert, advised the authorities, and so on. Gèng had been tasked with helping Leah improve her situational awareness when she wasn’t in the Pod, and John had given Gèng access to the Security system’s data and analysis.

0.00000005 seconds after the first projectile was fired, the security system noted the pinpoint spot of light from the explosion of the primary casing. 0.13 seconds later it recorded the second flash and then the third another 0.13 seconds later. 0.35 seconds after the first piece of data the security system recorded a burst of infrared radiation when the first needle’s controlled-burn kicked in. These four pieces of data were enough of a match for the AI to initiate an internal alarm to all security personnel. By the time 0.56 seconds had elapsed, additional infrared readings triggered the AI to update the alert to include a report with an expected accuracy of ninety-eight per cent that a security breach was in progress which consisted of three incoming high-velocity projectiles. The AI included the projected flight path.

None of the humans had even registered the first alarm when, at 0.58 seconds into the projectile’s flight, Gèng increased Leah’s ability to process information to maximum and ensured all the new physical connections were fully activated. Simultaneously she said, “Danger! Drop left! Stay down!”

Even with her perception increased, it took Leah 0.07 seconds to recognise the command and begin to drop. At 0.89 seconds the first projectile impacted the window, destroying the ballistic point. In the intervening 0.3 seconds, Leah had dropped down and to her left with a total displacement of 17.2 centimetres. The needle passed through the curtain and entered Leah’s right shoulder, hitting the spinal process of her scapula. The needle did as it was designed and was already expanding into six separate splinters. Instead of shredding the heart and possibly the spine, the splinters encountered a carbon fibre reinforced ridge of bone.

Three of the splinters were deflected along Leah’s trapezius. One ended up in the upper trapezius and lodged under the skin of Leah’s lower neck, one stopped five centimetres short of her C7 vertebrae while the third travelled toward the middle trapezius but impacted the medial border of the scapula and turned, coming to rest sticking halfway out of her skin. Two splinters were deflected into her deltoid muscle, one exiting her shoulder and the other curving across under the exterior carbon fibres and coming to rest in the anterior deltoid. The final splinter followed the spinal process and tore through the infraspinatus, coming to rest under the acromion.

Both the second and third projectiles missed Leah and travelled the length of her room, splintering as they passed through an internal wall and came to rest in the internal wall of the room across the corridor from Leah.

Leah landed on her left side, which reignited the pain on that side just as the pain from the fragmented needle saturated her increased awareness. Gèng slowly eased Leah’s rate of perception as she passed out. Leah was only out for ten seconds, and as she regained consciousness the pain hit her afresh. She almost fainted a second time, but instead, she gritted her teeth and used her left hand to push herself to her knees. She asked, “What’s happening?”

“You’ve been shot in the right shoulder, but from the few vitals I can access outside the Pod, no major blood vessels have been damaged. John is just now logging out of his world. Security personnel are starting to respond. Security sensor data suggests no other injuries. Sensor data also suggests the sniper is rapidly exiting his hideaway.”

Leah stood and took a pair of track pants with her left hand, struggling to get them on but finally succeeding.

Gèng gave another update. “John is exiting his Pod, and I expect him here in less than twenty seconds. The guards have begun the lockdown procedure. Sensor data suggests the sniper has just thrown some equipment in his vehicle.”

Leah put her head through the hole of a t-shirt and let it hang down in front of her. She’d just finished when John crashed through the door wearing only a pair of shorts. As he stepped toward her, she held up her left hand and said in a voice loaded with pain, “John, stop. My right shoulder is damaged, but I’ll survive. How soon can you block the roads west of here?”

John had also been receiving updates, and he said, “Not in time. We don’t have a vehicle, my mistake.”

“Worry about it later. Help me sit on the bed, I’m feeling queasy.”

John helped her over to the edge of the bed and then said, “I know it’s dangerous but I have to call an ambulance.”

“We can’t, John. No doctors and no police.”

“I don’t think the Switch healers are good enough for this.”

Leah had started to rock slowly back and forth in pain and said, “Maybe, maybe not. I’ll live for a few hours with some painkillers and antibiotics.”

John sat next to her on the left, and she leant against him. He said, “You’re not indestructible, Leah.”

“Oh, I know that. If I thought I was, I’d have had you break the window while I jumped out to catch the guy.”

“You did consider it. Didn’t you?”

“Yep. But to be honest, it hurts too much. If I wasn’t distracting myself by talking with you, I’d pass out.”

Gèng said, “The assailant’s vehicle has exited the area.”

John said, “I’m sure Jimmy has some connections.”

Leah said, “Good. Now, Gèng, can I get in the Pod for pain relief and a scan?”

“It isn’t recommended but several first responders have used the Pod to stabilise patients when nothing else was available.”

Leah nodded and said, “John, go get Marie or some other girl to come and help me. You’ve already seen too much.”

Before John could move, Michael ran through the door and fell to his knees in front of Leah and said, “I was so worried.”

It was only then that he noticed her arms weren’t in her shirt and she was leaning against John’s bare chest.

His eye’s widened, but before he could say anything, John said, “Michael, you sit here and keep Leah upright, she’s been shot. I’m going to get Marie to help her into the Pod and Mia to see if we can first stop the bleeding.”

As soon as they’d changed places, John left to get Marie, and Michael wasn’t sure what he should say or do when he felt Leah’s body shaking while she grunted in pain. Worried, he turned to ask her how she was, only to find that she was chuckling and squinting in agony at the same time.

It hurt too much to keep laughing so she got herself under control and said, “You should’ve seen your face, Dad. I thought you’d die of some combination of embarrassment, confusion, and rage.”

“No father wants to see his daughter undressed with a man.”

“I guess.”

Michael waited for her to say something else but realised she’d passed out. He asked his AI to get John, or anyone, to come help but before he got a response John entered the room with Lacey, Marie and Mia. When he touched Leah’s arm, she opened her eyes and said, “Sorry, phased out.”

Michael stood and let Lacey take over holding Leah upright. John said, “Mia, see what you can do about the bleeding. Leah, I’ll keep in contact with Gèng. If I can’t get any help from Jimmy, then I will call an ambulance.”

Leah said, “Don’t do that. You know you can’t. If you can’t find someone, then we’ll just find another way. No outsiders without permission, John. Those are your rules. Keep them, please.”

Michael started, “Now hold on. We need a doctor.”

John held up his hand and said, “I know, Michael, I know. But Leah’s right. Leah, I’m going to talk with your dad. He’s been very trusting but this is going to be too much. Do you agree?”

Leah nodded, and John ushered Michael out, closing the door. Lacey helped ease the t-shirt over Leah’s head, and Mia treated the wounds. She washed both the entry wound and smaller exit on Leah's shoulder. Mia packed them with some hemostatic granules and powder she’d recently bought online to add to her first-aid kit. She’d only been able to afford it since working at the Pod Facility as the ‘healer’. She then covered each wound with hemostatic gauze, another new acquisition. Finally, she used some waterproof dressings to seal the areas while Leah was in the Pod. With the piece that was sticking out of Leah’s back, she used a whole packet of gauze and formed them into a ring to fit around the splinter. It only needed to hold Leah up for a short time and then the gel would support her.

They helped Leah out of her track pants and into the Pod. Marie made sure the gauze didn’t press against the splinter. Even so, Leah had passed out before the lid had started closing.

18

December 15, 2073 - Part 10

THE STORK TOWER

The next thing Leah knew was she was on the sofa in the Tower. Her body ached, which it wasn’t supposed to do, but it was much more manageable than when she’d been outside the Pod.

Gèng appeared and said, “I’ve been worried. Your neural system resisted a transition into NREM3, which the literature indicates is the best way to stabilise a person in such an emergency. I was tempted to discuss this with Dr Roberts, but I thought it’d be best to wait and discuss the options with you.”

“She already knows most things. If it helps then please contact her. I’d best contact Dr Ellis and let him know I probably can’t make it again.”

“What if he wants a reason?”

“Too many people are aware of what is going on as it is. I can tell him about Meredith but will leave out the whole neural changes.”

While Gèng discussed Leah’s current circumstances with Dr Roberts, Leah contacted Dr Ellis and explained that due to circumstances, she would probably not be able to come that evening but would be happy to reschedule. His response was polite but firm. He was disappointed and he wanted to be flexible, but he believed he deserved an explanation.

Leah pondered her reply but finally invited him to her world. He agreed and when Leah was about to rise to go get him, Gèng said, “Dr Roberts suggested that you don’t move. Even small movements to change position should be avoided and definitely no walking until she’s finished looking at the studies and reviewing the data I’m sending her. I’ll go get Dr Ellis.”

Leah sat and waited. She realised she enjoyed having to walk to and from the podium. Finally, Gèng escorted Dr Ellis in. Gèng said, “Please have a seat, Dr Ellis. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?”

“Well, what do you have to drink for an old Welshman?”

“Well, it is from the wrong country, but would you like a tumbler of Macallan ‘M’ scotch?”

“Macallan ‘M’, the real stuff?”

“Of course. How do like it served?”

“Straight, it’s the only way to drink real whiskey.”

When Gèng had left, Dr Ellis said, “Amazing, Leah, your world is amazing and so is Gèng.”

Leah and Dr Ellis talked about the Tower until Gèng returned with the whiskey and then Leah said, “Thank you for visiting, Dr Ellis. Learning from you and Dr Whitfield is what I’ve been aiming towards for years, and I don’t want anything to destroy this opportunity, or worse, to lose your respect.”

“Good, because neither Ellen nor I want to see you leave. It isn’t only your potential, but you’ve already become a catalyst for our own ideas and aspirations. Ellen called yesterday all excited about several new directions her research is heading. She was the most animated she’s been about her work for years. Now, what’s the big secret?”

“It’s not so much a secret, as an onion, or one of those Russian Matryoshka dolls. My reason’s fairly vanilla but some people will potentially hear of it, and they will puzzle things out enough to peel off another layer and before I know it they’ll peel away everything I love and care about.”

“You’re still being cryptic but I’ll bite. What vanilla flavoured onion skin do you have for me?”

“Two evenings ago, when I’d agreed to be in your laboratory I was hurt helping someone I love. It was in the real world, and they were caught in a dangerous situation.”

“And now?”

“Not long ago, the people who I helped protect this person from, they attacked me to get revenge. I’m in my Pod waiting for some medical help to arrive. I’m calling you only because I promised.”

“Your explanation would, as you said, have been sufficient and would have satisfied my concerns. But this secrecy seems too much unless the people who hurt you are both criminal and very powerful and connected.”

Leah said, “I must remember never to give too many points of data to a scientist.”

“Will you answer one more question for me and then I’ll leave it alone?”

“OK, but no names or places.”

“What are your injuries?”

“The first night I received some broken bones, lots of bruises, and strained and torn muscles.”

When Leah stopped talking Dr Ellis said, “And tonight?”

“I was shot in the right shoulder.”

“Are you interested in what a scientist can do with two more points of data?”

“Sure, but let’s face it, some so-called scientists use two points of data to build unbelievable world-shattering theories.”

“Unfortunately, Leah, some only need one point. You haven’t called the police or else they would already be there and so would a doctor. You said, ‘waiting for medical help’ with no reference to an ambulance or doctor, which confirms my supposition. A shooting can’t easily evade their detection abilities, but a wealthy opponent would be able to buy the very best. With that type of weaponry at their disposal, they tried to kill you. You would only avoid the police if you thought they were able to be controlled by the people who tried to kill you, or you were concerned they would find out you’d done something illegal, or both.”

“Dr Ellis, next time you don’t get another question.”

“How badly are you hurt?”

“I’ve no idea. Gèng?”

Gèng said, “Six large shards of shrapnel lodged in your neck, back, shoulder and arm. One entry and two exit wounds, your scapula is fractured into three pieces, and that’s ignoring numerous small chips. No major blood vessels are torn, but John and your father want to talk with you. They are going to meet you here in five minutes real-time. No major organs are damaged. However, all of the shrapnel pieces significantly shredded the tissue they passed through on their path through your body. There are numerous small pieces of shrapnel throughout the shoulder region, with tiny pieces from electrical, mechanical, and computerised components.”

Dr Ellis said, “Leah, you might not know this, but in my youth I did some physics work for the Ministry of Defence. I still meet up with some old friends every now and again. What Gèng described sounds like a guided, or at the very least, a smart-assist projectile. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“I am very lucky to be alive, Dr Ellis.”

“Remember, we agreed I was Thomas. I let it slide before because I was in the supervisor role. Now I’m in the colleague and friend role. Can I do anything to help?”

“Thanks, Thomas, but I don’t think so.”

Gèng interrupted and said, “I do know a possible way you could help.”

Leah said, “Maybe later then, after I’m feeling better, maybe we can think of something then.”

Gèng said, “Thomas, if you want to help Leah, then I have a suggestion.”

Leah said, “Gèng, can we discuss this later?”

Gèng opened her mouth to say something, but Dr Ellis interrupted her, “Ah, another piece of data and another skin comes free. Leah, your AI Gèng was aware you didn’t want her to let me help. You gave what any other AI would consider a direct order and she not only ignored you, but she proceeded to push the point. You could have ordered her to comply, but instead, you tried to redirect. Now, any other AI would have seen this as another direct order, but Gèng was going to push back again. I’d theorise that not only is her sentience level high, but that you take her independence as a given. She is not only sentient, but she possesses a cohesive and well-developed self-identity. AI like her are called EPICS, which stands for an AI with self-actualised Ethics, Purpose, Ipseity, Creativity and Sentience. I imagine this is one of those final onion layers you fear uncovering. You are afraid of what people will do to someone who, in your own words, you ‘love and care about’.”

Leah said nothing. Finally, Gèng said, “Dr Ellis, I have read much of the debate around how to deal with what you call EPICS, and I know Leah has. I think you are only partially correct in saying that she wants me to be quiet because she is afraid for me and because she loves me. But we are both afraid of far worse things than losing each other.”

Turning to Leah, she said, “You have been haphazardly building a core of people who you trust and who you can work with for weeks now. People who can help deal with this problem but it isn’t enough. We need help and it is being freely offered by a man of intellect, with connections and with what I think is a good heart.”

Leah nodded slowly, and Gèng said, “Dr Ellis, with all you’ve surmised, does your offer to help still stand?”

“It does.”

“Then, if you are able to talk to your contacts in the Ministry of Defence, and if you can do it safely, then we need to get some deep background on a British citizen. If we look for it and we get caught then too many dots will all be connected. Your contacts will, I hope, be able to covertly find out what we need. They may even uncover what we are looking for, so please ask them to be careful. I’m not asking for anything classified or beyond what I could legally discover with time and effort. It is just that we can’t afford to have the search lead back to us. I would suggest your friends also make sure it does not lead back to them and please only ask people you trust.”

“So if I get this right, you want a covert, deep, metadata search done on information that is publicly accessible? This information is, you think, of vital importance in some big scheme involving powerful people who are already trying to kill you. You want me to ask my trusted, very skilled, friends not to get caught, or even spotted, doing something perfectly legal and then to get this perfectly legal information to you without it being able to be connected to you in any way?”

“Yes.”

“OK, I’ll help. Who is this person?”

“The second Earl Barnsworth, Leo Barnsworth.”

“Seriously!”

Leah said, “Yes, please. Gèng is correct once again. This is something we can’t do ourselves, and we need to have the information so we can understand more of what is going on.”

“Then I’ll do it. When I have something, I’ll let you know. Please keep me informed about your health.”

“Thank you, Thomas. We appreciate it.”

Thomas logged out soon afterwards because Gèng informed them that John and Michael were waiting to talk about her medical options.

When John and Michael sat down, John said, “I talked with Jimmy and he has no one he trusts enough to help. He’s checking around with the other Bosses, and he thinks he’ll be successful but not before morning. Your dad has a suggestion he thinks will be quicker.”

Michael said, “I’ve talked to John and I understand why you don’t want to go to the doctor, but I’ll take you there if the only other option is you dying. Now, having got that off my chest, I do have a suggestion.”

There was a pause as Leah waited for her dad to continue, but he seemed almost afraid to speak the idea aloud.

Finally, John said, “Hurry up Michael, it’s your idea, and there is no way I’m going to take the blame for suggesting it,”

After another small pause, Michael said, “Leah, um …, you know that sometimes I need to let off a little steam and I, um …, well I’ve been known to spend some time down at the Blue Heeler.”

“Yes Dad, I know. We all know you like a drink every now and then. The Blue Heeler is a nice pub, and whether you know it or not, I’ve done small jobs for Ned and even hung out with Bill and Panit.”

“No, I didn’t know you occasionally worked for the Switch’s most notorious pub owner and that you hung out with his two most dangerous bouncers. Believe me, we will discuss that later.”

No longer embarrassed, Michael continued, “Well I’ve made some friends down there, and one of them isn’t from the Switch but lives at the old meat works. People call him ‘Coats’ but his real name is Kevin.”

“I know who Coats is, Dad, what about him?”

“I’d like to ask him to treat you.”

“Coats! Dad, he’s a …I can’t think of a word that doesn’t seem really, really, judgemental. He drinks a lot, and he doesn’t bathe regularly. He has no fixed address. His clothing of choice is a pair of old coats, and I know for a fact that he isn’t wearing anything else except a pair of old shoes.”

“Yes, he is an unhygienic, rather eccentric, homeless old drunkard and I don’t want to know how you know what is, or isn’t, under his coat. That aside, he also used to be a surgeon.”

“Dad, how long ago?”

“He’s in his late sixties, and he stopped working maybe twenty-five years ago.”

“If he has the skill, why haven’t people in the Switch been seeing him before this?”

“He hasn’t told too many people that I know of, and when he stopped working, he swore he would never go back to the old life, ever.”

“Why did he stop and why would he change his mind?”

“He stopped because he made a mistake and someone died. He’ll help because I’ll help him see it won’t be the same as it was before.”

“You want someone who killed someone to operate on me?”

“Don’t make assumptions, Leah. I never said he killed someone while operating. I didn’t even say that he killed someone. Look, it’s not my story it’s his. If you want to keep out of the hospital, then it is an option.”

“What about the fact that he’s a drunk?”

“It’s only ten. He won’t have started seriously drinking yet.”

“John, what do you think?”

“I think your dad is nuts. Still, I suggest Michael and I go talk with him while Jimmy tries to work his magic.”

Leah tentatively agreed although she preferred the idea of Jimmy finding someone else rather than having Coats use a knife on her. John and Michael left, and Gèng said, “What can I get for you?”

“I was going to suggest a book, but I’m finding it hard to concentrate.”

“You could read your fan mail.”

“My what?”

“Your fan mail. I know you’ve looked at some of the messages you get from strangers. I know you’ve been ignoring it, but the number of messages has increased a thousand fold since you’ve been ranked.”

“No thanks. I already feel sick, I don’t need to add to it. Anything else?”

“You have a few messages from people you know. The manager of Ascendant sent you a small note of congratulations. Red and Star sent you a note, as did Elsa, and there are others.”

Leah agreed and she read through the various messages and sent replies. She remembered to send Wisp a note saying something had come up, and she couldn’t get to Cosmos Online for a day or two. She messaged Red and Star that she had a mission they might enjoy and asked them to contact her if they were interested. She asked Elsa for information about Eli. Her second to last message was from Yuè Fēi, and she spent such a long time working on the reply that she decided she probably had a small crush on the guy.

Her final message was from Ivan, player name Боевой_молот. He congratulated her and said he hoped next time she’d push Meredith from her pedestal and break her nose or something. He explained how Meredith had been trying to win him over, and he had tried being polite, but he was almost ready to start a feud of his own. Two things stood out to Leah. The first was that Ivan really didn’t like Meredith, and the second was that Meredith had offered him something that Leah wanted.

She sent a quick query to see if he was free to talk. He responded almost immediately and agreed. His message offered to meet at his place or to set up a visual chat. Leah sent a quick video message and said, “I can’t visit right now but I am happy for a visual chat, or you could come to visit me.”

Ivan decided to visit her and Gèng sent the address. Gèng went to get Ivan, and Leah asked that she explain that Leah was injured but not to give any details. Gèng showed Ivan into the Tower and then left. After the usual comments about her world, Leah said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you at your place, but I’m not supposed to move around.”

Ivan sat and said, “It does happen. Not to me of course but sometimes to fragile little girls. Suggest to your doctor that he gives you a temporary exception. You can play and it has no effect on the body. It happens all the time, no problem.”

“I would, but then the person who hurt me will know they succeeded, and I don’t want that to happen.”

“Someone hurt you. Who do I have to beat up?”

“Now that’s the attitude I was looking for, Ivan. You know I enjoy talking to you, and I did want to thank you for your message, but I also invited you here with an ulterior motive.”

“Ah little girl, when most women say that to me I remind them that I am very married and that my wife is very possessive. You, I think, have a different motive.”

“Definitely. I wanted to know if you would like to annoy Meredith just a bit.”

“How much is a bit, Atherleah?”

“Well, she’ll probably hate you forever. She’ll hate me more, but she will be very, very annoyed with you.”

“Tell me, what must I do and what will it cost me?”

“In your message, you mentioned that Meredith invited you and your wife to the International Christmas Season Opening Gala. It’s by invitation only, and it sounded like you were going to refuse.”

“I am. My wife is not happy with all those people. They always make her angry, the way they look at her and talk to her. They only want to talk about themselves.”

“So, I was going to ask if you would consider telling Meredith your wife can’t make it but could you bring a ‘plus one’?”

“You? I think you would hate it more than my wife.”

“I’m certain I would. I have three reasons. First, it’ll annoy Meredith beyond measure that she arranged for me to be there. Second, you asked who you would ‘have to beat up’, and this will be so much more humiliating for her. Third, my boyfriend will be there, and Meredith and his parents are keeping him away from me.”

“She is the one who hurt you?”

“Yes.”

“How could she do this?”

“She is rich and powerful and really doesn’t like me. It was either her or Nathan.”

“I can understand trying to annoy Meredith, but even I will not be too happy to annoy Nathan. How are you hurt?”

“That isn’t important. Will you help?”

“Who is the boyfriend?”

“Thad Emerson.”

“They won’t like you as a girlfriend. Too, how you say it? Ah, I remember, you are too ‘not good enough.’”

“Thanks, Ivan. Your opinion of my worth is making me feel so much better.”

“No, don’t be mad. That is a compliment from me. This Thad, I can’t believe he is the right person if he lets his parents tell him he can’t see you.”

“It isn’t up to him.”

“If he is a man then it is up to him. He doesn’t sound like the right person. I will introduce you to some real men. What do you say?”

Leah spent ten minutes explaining about the malware and discussed the examples of what she’d come up against but didn’t mention any names. After Ivan had finally accepted what she’d said, he said, “Do they do this in the Russian Republic as well?”

“Security didn’t say, but the update was international, so I’m certain it happens there.”

Ivan sat there quietly and then finally said, “How did she hurt you? Don’t say it isn’t important. I wondered why she was so against you. She is petty and arrogant, but this has always been more than that. What did she do?”

It was Leah’s turn to be quiet. Eventually, she said, “I can’t prove it was her yet, but I know it was because of things that have happened. I was shot.”

“Shot!”

“Yes.”

“Then I will talk to Gashka. If she agrees, then I will try and arrange it. You are a dangerous little girl. Try not to get dead.”

Ivan said farewell and left Leah alone again. She tried to read a book but found it hard to concentrate. Finally, Gèng said, “John is back in his Pod, and he wants to talk.”

“Yeah, OK. Now is good.”

When John arrived, he said, “Leah, Jimmy has been able to find some help, but she’s a nurse, not a doctor. I talked with her and she works in a theatre and is willing to come here and assist, no questions asked. I mentioned your dad’s friend. She said he would be better than her but said she could come and assist and she’d make sure he didn’t do anything too dangerous.”

“And Coats?”

“I don’t know what your dad said to him, but he’s downstairs having a shower. I expect the nurse, Aleyna, to be here in twenty minutes. She is bringing stuff like scalpels and forceps and all those things. What we don’t have is any way to give you a general anaesthetic. She’ll bring some local anaesthetic. Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“I can’t see any other way, John. How soon?”

“Exit the Pod in half an hour.”

John left, and Leah asked Gèng to move the sofa and herself down beside the river. She sat there thinking through what had happened, made some lists and wrote out her will. When John messaged that everything was ready, Leah had Gèng log her out.

REAL WORLD

Mia, Marie, and Lacey were waiting, and with them was a middle-eastern looking woman about forty years of age who introduced herself as Aleyna. They helped Leah into a pair of track pants, and then Lacey and Marie ducked outside and brought in a hastily constructed stretcher which they put onto the bed. Once they had helped Leah to lie face down on the stretcher, John and Johan came in. They carried Leah out into the hall and then to a room down the corridor which had been hurriedly emptied and turned into surgery.

A waist-high bench had been converted into a makeshift operating table, and the men were kicked out for a minute while the women helped Leah lie on the bench. Michael came in with an old man who Leah hardly recognised. Leah thanked him for offering to help out and said that her father was a good judge of character.

Coats, or Kevin, as he said he wanted to be called said, “Not sure if I offered or was told. I’m also not sure if Michael is a good judge of character or not, but he can tell good stories. You realise that I haven’t done this for a long time and that you should go to a hospital.”

“I understand, Kevin. But we can’t always do what we should.”

“Michael made me some promises. You’re the one who’ll have to keep them. Will you do what he promised?”

Leah’s dad walked around so she could see him and he simply nodded.

Leah said, “I can’t say for sure if I can do what he promised, but I will give it my best shot and then I’ll keep on trying until I know it can’t be done.”

“That’ll be enough for me. OK, everyone out except the nurse, the healer girl, John, and Johan.”

Michael said, “I’d like to stay and help.”

“Nope, get out. You’ll distract me. The nurse is probably enough, but I may need the boys to hold her down. Now John, where are the scans you said you had?”

John had brought a screen into the room, and Gèng put the images up of Leah’s shoulder and the wounds with detailed pictures of each piece of debris. Kevin began to remove the dressings and then after injecting Leah with some local anaesthetic, he got to work. In the beginning, both Kevin and Aleyna commented each time they encountered the carbon fibres in Leah’s body, but after repeated warnings from John, they finally ignored them. Altogether it took them four hours to clean all the wounds, remove the pieces of shrapnel and suture everything closed. The anaesthetic helped but didn’t dull all the pain. Even so, John and Johan weren’t needed.

When Kevin had finished, he suggested a treatment of antibiotics and pain relief and said he would be back later the next day to check on Leah. Leah asked if she could enter the Pod and Kevin said, “I’d rather you didn’t. It isn’t a problem with the gel but with the moving of your shoulder.”

“How about if I get in and go into NREM3 ?”

“No harm and in fact, that would be beneficial. Have your AI monitor your vitals and tell John if anything goes wrong.”

John and Johan carried Leah back to her room, then Marie and Lacey helped her into the Pod. As soon as she was settled Gèng closed the Pod lid. This time, Leah dropped immediately into NREM3 sleep.

Diary - 15 December, 2073 - Evening

It hurts…

I didn’t say anything, I didn’t make a sound. I did moan a few times, but that’s it.

I suppose everything is a learning experience. I’ve learned that local anaesthetics don’t affect new carbon fibre neural pathways. Gèng tried to control the connection but the pathways are mine now, they’re fully connected. I could feel every cut and every prod. I’m thankful the connections aren’t as comprehensive as my biological nerves, or I don’t think I’d have survived. But, truth be told, I’m not complaining. I heard and saw enough to know that if the carbon fibres hadn’t been there, then I’d be dead. From not being able to react fast enough. From shredded lungs and a shredded heart. From blood loss, if nothing else.

Someone tried to kill me. Meredith tried to kill me. Nathan tried to kill me. All because she lost the upload. I wonder what is so valuable to her. And what do I do now? How am I supposed to respond? If I knew what I was feeling I think I’d know what to do. I mean, I know I was angry earlier, but I don’t know what this feeling is. Why is it that I can get angry for Lillian, for Zarif, for N’den, for Wisp, for Rik, for Catherine, for Thad and even for Mist’s brother Jim who I’ve never met but I don’t feel that same anger for myself anymore?

I used to. I used to get incensed by the injustice, the wrongness of my lot. I was angry at everyone and everything for a while. I think I decided, rightly or wrongly, that only I would control my life. If I didn’t like something, or if I felt I wanted more then I would take control. And, it’s worked for a while, but things are bigger than they were. I’m realising that I can’t, I can’t control my life. I can only control some things, and even those only because I’m surrounded by others. Maybe that’s what I feel, powerless.

Maybe I should back off. Take a step back and leave the Kodomans and Emersons alone. Sink back into my smaller pond where I can control things. But I won’t. For no other reason right now except that I don’t want to be a ‘Coats’, I want to be a ‘Kevin’. I can’t imagine the courage it took for him to face his demons, whatever they are. I know if I step back into only the things I can control then I’ll wither and die. I tried to picture myself thirty years from now, dirty and naked except for two or three old coats that never get washed and the scary thing was I could. I can imagine that giving up on one thing could lead me to give up on everything.

So I guess it’s time to step up and look out. But now it isn’t only a matter of looking further, but it’s also about stepping up and seeing it all the way through to the end. By myself I may be powerless, but Kevin has also shown me—I’m not on my own.

19

December 16, 2073 - Part 1

REAL WORLD

Leah opened her eyes as the Pod cover lifted. Mrs Sperry was waiting with Jen, John’s girlfriend. Mrs Sperry said, “Leah, Lacey and Marie are both still sleeping. Mia’s going to come in and check on you in just a minute. John said you’d need more than just me to help you this time and Jen offered.”

It took both of them to help Leah from the Pod. Once she was out, she explained that she really needed the bathroom and so they helped her to the toilet. Mrs Sperry wanted to stay and support Leah, but Leah made her leave. Leah said to Gèng, “I haven’t needed to go this badly for a long time.”

“You haven’t been since you were shot. Also, I kept you in NREM3 for four hours. Even with most of the nanites retasked to help with the damaged muscles and to reduce swelling, you won’t be up to swinging a sword for at least another four hours, if that.”

“I’ve just missed another day of Dunyanin. I can’t afford any more time away without questions being asked, especially just after the rankings came out.”

After calling for Mrs Sperry, she was helped back into the room where Mia Lee was waiting. Mia checked each of the wounds and redid the dressings. She was pleased with the results and said that Kevin promised he’d drop in after he woke up. Leah needed to eat, so Mia helped her into a bathrobe and Jen went to get some breakfast. In addition to the food, there was a dose of supplements, and an antibiotic Kevin had suggested.

Leah was ready to get back in the Pod when Jen said, “Leah, can we talk for a bit?”

Leah nodded, and the other two seemed to know it was personal and left the room, closing the door.

Jen said, “Leah, I don’t know what to do about John. Since last night he’s been storming around like a madman. He yelled at the security and even had Mrs Sperry searched when she came over this morning. She got up at three in the morning to be here, and he was so rude. She seems OK with it, but I’ve never seen John like this. He’s so angry.”

Leah said, “He’s just being a typical male, Jen. I’m surprised you haven’t worked it out, but maybe it gets harder to see things the closer you get to someone.”

“He’s never been like this before, and he won’t talk about it. You’re closer to him in some ways than I am. Will he talk to you?”

“I doubt it. I’ll tell you what I would do, and if you do it, then he will talk to you and tell you what is wrong.”

“What do I do?”

“In a minute send a message that I want to talk with him. When he comes through the door, start hitting him with my fighting sticks in the cupboard. Just go for it. You’re not good enough to hurt him too much, he’ll deflect a few and then take them off you and ask you why the hell you’re hitting him. Tell him it’s because he’s a stupid, stubborn, pig-headed male whose testosterone levels have dulled his usually average brain cells. When he looks at you without comprehension, tell him it’s not his fault I was shot. After that, you should be able to handle it.”

“I know men can be stupid, but why would he think it was his fault?”

“He’s a male. I think it’s genetic. My mum told me that men blame themselves for what they can’t control, and then take no responsibility for what they can.”

Jen stuck her head out the door and asked Mrs Sperry to let John know Leah needed to see her. Jen took Leah’s fighting sticks and waited near the door. They could both hear when John came running down the corridor. As he walked into the room, Jen did as Leah had suggested. Leah was impressed with Jen’s skills and thought maybe she shouldn’t have recommended Jen just ‘go for it’. When John took the sticks from Jen and demanded to know what was going on, Leah was even more impressed with Jen’s additions to what she had thought was a good insult because Jen turned it into a great insult.

John didn’t answer Jen but turned and looked at Leah. He said, “Was this your idea?”

Leah said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I would suggest that discussing it with me before dealing with Jen’s quite appropriate frustration over your behaviour is not the best approach to take.”

As John turned to look at Jen, Leah winked at her. Jen stamped her foot and stormed out of the room. John turned to glare at Leah and then hurried after Jen. Mrs Sperry came in, followed by Mia. Mrs Sperry said, “You gave good advice then, young Leah. Thank you. I was almost ready to beat him up myself.”

After Mia and Mrs Sperry helped Leah with her shower, they helped her back into the Pod. Mrs Sperry had suggested Leah might be better having a rest, but Leah explained that in the Pod her body would be suspended and that her pain levels could be both monitored and moderated.

THE STORK TOWER

As soon as Leah was back in the Tower, she pulled up her notes from the last few days and spent an hour reading over research and looking through the messages she’d missed or put aside. She said, “Gèng, I know I can’t go running all over the place but would it cause any problems if I spent some time in the cyberverse?”

“Your neural system is still in a state of flux, and it also uses a lot of energy in that construct. I’m hesitant for you to put it under more duress. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I finished approving the designs for the coins and reading through the draft proposal from Dunyanin. I glanced through my finances and looked into all the buildings Leon is considering, and I thought that next, I’d leave a message for Alan Hopper.”

“I have his contact details.”

“I know but I want him to come to me.”

“How will you get him to do that?”

“Well, your background information said he is a member of the San Luis County Choral Society. I looked at their information site, and they send out regular newsletter updates to their members every Friday at twelve. The deplorable state of this newsletter is a common topic of study on the Society’s forum. One of the people who comments all the time is Alan Hopper. I thought we could ask Reed to slip a small clue into the newsletter that will only mean something to Alan.”

“What type of clue?”

“The newsletters have a small classified section which nobody reads, apparently. Even if they don’t read it, they do comment on it all the time. I thought I’d have a Sophie B. Andrews says she is looking for a second-hand school desk for a grade three student. She needs it because her youngest grandchild’s report from the last term was terrible and she needs the help.”

“His three grandchildren are Sophie, Brook and Andrew. Sophie, the youngest is in grade three at the Cambria Grammar School. So after the hack into the Choral Society, you want Reed to hack into a school?”

“Yes, or we could see if Tesfaye could help, all they need to do is get into her report and add a comment like, ‘Mary Helens really needs the help of Jeff Montrose and his library skills.’ This would be followed by a list of numbers.”

“Mary and Helen are the two people hurt in real life and Jeff Montrose is the hero in his paper. What will the numbers say?”

“A substitution cypher using the public index of his third-party code library which says, ‘Time and location of a meet is in your private highway’.

“You’ll need to drop this message off, and how would you get into his private highway?”

“That’s what I want to check. I think we will find he does have access to the low-security facility you mentioned.”

“Why?”

“The CEO of the real company his story was based on is now the CEO of the parent company which owns the low-security facility. I think he took the job to make sure he had an in. It didn’t make any sense that he worked for that company, so I dug deeper.”

“If you can get in and leave some data, what will you say?”

‘Mozzi’s at ten-thirty’.”

“And Mozzi’s is the oldest saloon in his town, and it has a virtual presence.”

“What do you think?”

“It might work. While we were talking, I asked both Reed and Tesfaye to look for entry points. Tesfaye is part of a hacker collective, and he has sent out an urgent request for some help. When they get back to me, I’ll have to make sure the security storage site will blend into what you’ve already experienced.”

“Is the collective trustworthy?”

“Tesfaye says they are.”

Leah said, “Good. While we wait, I’m going to work on some ideas I had when thinking about aether dimensions and time.”

Gèng disappeared and Leah started working on various equations and running through the assumptions she used when trying to describe a given aether dimension in terms that would explain where and when it might be constructed in our space-time continuum. She’d modelled the situations before and had developed a number of tentative hypotheses on how to describe the connection between points. This time, she incorporated the new data she’d amassed from Dr Ellis and her tentative reflections on time.

She’d been working for almost three hours and was getting a little frustrated. She’d derived a series of expressions which described how a given quantum packet would travel through any given aether dimension. She’d also developed a meromorphic function which correlated the connection between a point in the aether dimension to points in space-time, but she had not been able to unite a single pair.

After her fifteenth attempt to combine the fifth set of specific equations she’d derived, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Either it wasn’t possible, she’d forgotten something, or one of the essential variables was missing. It could also be that her assumptions were faulty. Biting the bullet, she started with her assumptions. Aether dimensions could be constructed which existed outside of the known time-space continuum. Check. There was a connection between an artificial aether connection and the space-time continuum. Check. Quantum packets were not uniform across all aether dimensions. Check. Aether dimensions contained intervals which could be shown to be continuous. Check. Leah’s final list of assumptions numbered forty. She then worked down the list considering if any could be refined, extended, or broken down into multiple assumptions.

Another two hours had passed when on her third time going through the list, Leah realised that she’d subconsciously chosen to investigate only a subset of possible constructed dimensions. A quick check confirmed it, she’d always considered aether dimensions which were both spatially unbound and constructed with a Euclidean framework. She immediately began to list a variety of spatially bound, or shaped dimensions, starting with the regular shapes like a cube, cylinder, or dodecahedron and then a few well known non-regular shapes. Next, she did some reading on non-Euclidean three-dimensional geometries such as hyperbolic geometry and elliptic geometry before looking at those geometries which were constructed in four or more dimensions like those which described a hypersphere or tesseract.

Two hours into this research and just as it had when she’d been working with Dr Ellis, one of the newly formed neurones in her corpus callosum connected a mention of n-dimensional polytopes and something she’d once read when studying thermodynamics. It was about a thought experiment devised by Josiah Gibbs where he considered a closed system in which entropy was allowed to decrease, and there was a mention of a 6N-dimensional hypercylinder. Leah subconsciously increased the rate she received, connected and perceived information.

Gèng immediately noticed the increase but could only observe as Leah’s neural system slowly increased its processing speed to just below its previous best of 43.3 which she’d reached in Dr Ellis’ laboratory. Then, it began to utilise its increased electro-receptivity to co-opt one of the four-dimensional matrix-processors in her PAI chip. Leah’s new, and denser, neural connections didn’t only serve to increase the sensitivity of the chip’s connection to Leah, but they also allowed Leah access to the PAI chip. Leah wasn’t sure what had happened, but she was knew something was different when she began modelling a set of equations for a new shaped-dimension before finishing the model of her previous idea, and somehow she was overseeing both processes simultaneously. She imagined it was due to the new denser material around the connections to her AI chip and almost dismissed what happened Then she realised she was also able to ponder the situation without stopping her data modelling. The processor she’d co-opted had eighty-seven divergent-capable cores, and Leah began modelling multiple geometrical constructs simultaneously. She moved her small notebook to her right hand and started writing notes and then opened her virtual data tablet and began to touch-type her impressions with her left hand. After a minute of this, she also opened a voice-activated memo app and started dictating a third set of notes.

Gèng wasn’t entirely certain she could block Leah’s access to the processor but didn’t have enough information to know if the attempt might be harmful or not to Leah’s newly constructed neurons. She began running a review of research focused on human-controlled computers and contacted Dr Roberts. Leah had co-opted a second processor by the time Dr Roberts responded. Gèng described what was happening and asked if Dr Roberts thought it would be safe to interfere. Leah’s use of the chips had plateaued, so Dr Roberts suggested they monitor the temperature, pressure and neural activity in the brain for a few minutes to get a baseline and then evaluate the need for a possible intervention.

After five minutes, they noticed that as well as an increasing cranial temperature, Leah’s astrocytes were struggling to both process sufficient glucose and to recycle all of the glutamate produced by her neurons. Dr Roberts said, “She needs to stop soon, and I think it would be best if you try to interrupt her rather than simply stopping her from whatever processing she is doing. She is multitasking and you may even find she can drop her processing speed intentionally.”

Gèng appeared in front of Leah, who stopped dictating and looked up at her while continuing to write and type. Gèng said, “Do you know what you are doing?”

“Somehow, the new architecture allows me to multitask, and I’ve been working through some models for my work with Dr Ellis.”

“You’re only partially correct. You’re accessing my processors and are using them not only to increase your processing speed but also to multi-task.”

Leah didn’t stop her note-taking, but she did reduce the number of models she was working on. She said, “Is this a negative thing and do you recommend I stop?”

“The problem is that your cells are expending energy at a greater rate than they are being supplied and you can’t dissipate heat quickly enough. You need to slow down.”

Leah found she had some control, and as each model was examined and notes made, she didn’t begin a new one. What surprised Gèng and Ellen Roberts was that when Leah’s neural activity slowed, Leah’s connection to the processors didn’t end. Even when her rate of perception returned to its unenhanced speed, Leah continued to make notes with both hands as she talked with Gèng. Once Leah’s cranial temperature returned to normal, and her cells’ capacity to meet demand was restored, Gèng said, “Dr Roberts would like to join us to discuss what is happening.”

“That would be good.”

When Dr Roberts arrived, Leah stopped writing and welcomed her. Leah apologised for not standing but said she’d been asked to restrict her movements.

Dr Roberts said, “Don’t worry. I know what happened and you not moving is my advice. I see you’ve stopped trying to do three things at once.”

“Well, not really, but my mum always said to give a visitor your full attention. I am actually still thinking through the problem I was studying, and I’m dictating sub-vocally a set of results to Gèng.”

Dr Roberts looked shocked and glanced over at Gèng, who was sitting in a nearby seat listening. Gèng said, “I am currently talking with you both, copying the results from Leah, reviewing the security data, discussing a project with Reed, viewing the various publicly accessible satellite images of Brisbane from last night to see if I can determine where the shooter disappeared to, monitoring Leah’s vitals, reprogramming and re-tasking fifteen different nanites, among other things. I don’t find Leah’s new ability disturbing as I sense you do. My only concern is whether I will ever get my processors back. If not, then we may need to have more inserted or constructed.”

Leah said, “I will stop reviewing the problem and focus on doing one thing, and you can tell me if I relinquish control.”

Shortly Gèng said, “I have full access to my processors, and I believe I always did. My scheduler merely allocated those three to Leah and redirected my own tasks.”

Dr Roberts said, “Leah, without increasing your processing speed, try and write notes and continue talking.”

Leah tried but struggled. She tried again, she started saying a nursery rhyme and then attempted to continue the verse while concentrating on a particular geometric shape and how it might be constructed within an aether dimension. She felt the moment her neural system accessed the PAI processor, and the two things became simultaneous. She then picked up the pen and found she could write down her thoughts while she looked up at Dr Roberts. She said, “I’m able to multitask, but I’m not sure if I’ve just found a new ability, or if I’m accessing Gèng’s processor.”

“You are accessing my processor, but at least it’s only one this time.”

Dr Roberts sat back and said, “Leah, this is too much for you to keep secret. Think what people could do, what they could achieve with this technology. It’s one of those species-transforming technologies. Sort of a self-actualised evolutionary uplift event.”

Leah grinned and then became serious. “Maybe, even almost certainly. But who do you trust to tell this to? Which body, government or otherwise, do you consider ethical enough not to profit from this at the expense of someone else? Who would analyse what is happening in me and wouldn’t automatically take away my freedom? I may be being selfish but I would rather you, Gèng, and I continue to look deeper at what is happening and see if we can find a way that it might be repeated, or tested, without hurting anyone or taking away their security, their identity or their freedom.

“If there is a way to do that, or if there is a group we can find who will do that, then I’m all for it. At the moment though, I’m convinced my own government would make me disappear and I’d be placed in a closed room and tested and experimented on. I also think you’d disappear into a similar room until everything you know is distilled from your consciousness and subconsciousness and you would never resurface. Seriously, what do you think of my prognosis?”

Ellen nodded slowly and said, “I don’t only think your prognosis is accurate, but as I’ve intimated before, I’ve seen them do that. OK, no sharing at this time but please let’s begin looking at this with greater scrutiny.”

“OK. That is easy to agree to. The more we know, the safer I am and the safer my family and friends are. I do want to know, though, how it might play out in the multiverse.”

Gèng said, “The security system actively polices any instance of attempted dual entry. It’s attempted almost every hour somewhere in the world where a person tries a scam and instructs their AI to switch between worlds rapidly. Even if it is possible, you’d be flagged immediately. What may be possible is to enter a virtual world and maintain a presence in the Tower at the same time.”

The three talked about the possibilities until Leah’s nine virtual hours in the Pod were up. During that time Leah continued to work on the aether-dimension problem she was interested in and then when either Ellen or Gèng were talking, she dictated her results to Gèng. When Dr Roberts had left Leah logged out.

REAL WORLD

Lacey was waiting in Leah’s room when the Pod opened, and she lifted a small communicator and asked Jen if she was free to come help.

Leah said, “Is that a new toy?”

“In here, yes. The guards have been using them for a week. John decided your helpers needed them.”

Jen entered the room and while she and Lacey helped Leah from the Pod, Leah said, “Is he still beating himself up?”

Jen said, “A bit. You were right, he blamed himself. He thought of all the things he could have done that would have made a difference and felt he’d failed you. I think he realises now that blaming himself wasn’t productive. He’s calmed down but I still think he sees what happened as a failure.”

Lacey said, “It was. That doesn’t mean we could have done anything about it. In an aggressive, violent confrontation like that someone wins and someone loses or some combination of the two. We lost, Leah got shot. We also won, Leah is alive. He needs to learn from this, not whine.”

Jen said, “He didn’t whine. He just growled.”

Leah said, “Either way, I am glad he’s moving on.”

Jen said, “I asked someone to let Dr Kevin know you were getting up. He’s been resting downstairs and wanted to check you were alright.”

After Leah had been to the bathroom and showered, they helped her slip into a robe just as someone knocked on her door. Michael was with Kevin but after a quick hello, he was told to wait outside until Kevin had examined the wounds. Leah was surprised at how different Kevin looked after a shower and dressed in a pair of jeans, a button shirt, and wearing some slip-on shoes. He was all business as he checked the sutures and redid the bandaging. Lacey had brought a small book-sized tablet, and Leah had Gèng send through the latest scans.

When he’d finished, he sat down on one of the chairs someone had thought to bring into the room overnight and said, “I’ve been told not to ask questions, so I’ll try not to. The wounds look clean and I can’t see any signs of infection. The swelling is less than it should be and from the scans. It looks like the small chips of bone that I didn’t remove have already begun to move back into position, and some even show signs of beginning to reintegrate. There were some tiny pieces of shrapnel which I didn’t remove. Removing them would have caused more damage than the actual piece of shrapnel. Somehow these have begun to dissolve or something. Your damaged muscles will take some time to heal but whatever that material is that lines and infuses your tissues has already begun to repair itself from the look of things. Besides the fact that my observations so far are apparently impossible to explain in a normal human being, I will not ask any questions.

“I saw the holes in the room and the marks in the wall across the corridor. The pieces of shrapnel I removed indicate that what they came from was fired at a high velocity and had some computer to help it on the way. I’d say the person who shot you was either a moron or you are really, really lucky. Either way, I’m surprised you’re alive. The scans show more stuff I’m not supposed to ask questions about, so I won’t, but don’t show them to someone who would be inquisitive without doctoring them a bit more than you already did. You can move the shoulder around a bit but be very careful. Do you have any questions?”

“No. When will you let me know what I owe you?”

“When you’re better. It’s been a quarter of a century so it can wait.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, although in some way I should thank you. I never thought I’d do something like that again, but it felt OK. I haven’t been needed by anyone for years, and no one has thanked me for something for about just as long. Now everyone I meet is shaking my hand. You might not know this, but everyone here thinks you’re special. But enough of the nice nice. You go back into the Pod and try and rest.”

“I’d like to, but I have places to go that can’t wait. I do promise I’ll try and take it easier though.”

“Good! I’ll send Michael in. Tell him to go have a sleep. He looks awful.”

At that, Kevin left and Michael came in. They chatted for a few minutes and Michael shared how Lin was doing in the game. While they talked, Jen brought in some breakfast with some supplements and the antibiotic. She also handed Leah one of the high energy bars saying that Kevin said she should take it.

When Leah had finished, she logged back into the Tower.

20

December 16, 2073 - Part 2

THE STORK TOWER

Back in the Tower, Leah said, “I’d best head to Dunyanin. Is there any way we can reduce the muscle stimulation without giving anything away?”

“I have been working on options with Dr Roberts. Many people have the stimulation removed on doctor’s advice. The safety protocols are in place because so many people in the first few years of Pod use became sedentary and developed a whole range of health issues. I can remove the stimulation for one day out of every thirty without medical advice but only after the first thirty days, and this is day twenty-nine. Dr Roberts is willing to write a waiver but doesn’t want to leave a trail to connect you unnecessarily. She could have an acquaintance write the waiver, but her friends are mostly people of integrity and would ask some details.

The final option is an accommodation made for employees. If your employment contract has a provision for self-regulated medical leave or personal days then, for at most two of those, you are permitted to forego the Pod stimulation. I checked with Stephen and you do not technically have a contract in place, but he said you should. He suggests that as you operate as the CEO of this educational facility, then it makes sense for you to pay yourself and to be able to take a day’s leave if necessary.”

“Have you discussed all the implications like tax liability and any legal obligations?”

“I have, and then I ran it past Sarfaraz. He thinks it is all good and won’t change anything. Leon signed off on it but says you should get together sometime and discuss your salary.”

“OK, send it to me and I’ll read it.”

Leah signed the form and once it had been submitted, which took only a few minutes, Gèng was able to give Leah another twenty-four hours free from muscle stimulation in the Pod. Once everything was all finalised, Leah walked to the Dunyanin portal and stepped back into the room which had the gateway to the Labyrinth of Lords.

DUNYANIN

As she arrived, Gèng said, “You have several missed messages from your last visit. Do you want to see them now?”

“Yes, I’d better.”

Level 5 Named Personal Achievement

Create a Master Level Dragonfire Spell - First 1 (2, Painite)

You have completed the Achievement Create a Master Level Dragonfire Spell. You are the first player to gain this achievement. This is your second Level 5 NPA ‘First 1’

Reward 1: 10000 x 320 = 12928000 (+304%) Experience Points (5650000/5650000)…(2233936/5850000)

Reward 2: 1 Diamond x 1 = 2 Diamond

Reward 3: +1% to Experience Points

Reward 4: 50 Fame Points (271565 FP)

You have achieved the title: Master Mage of Dragonfire

You have created the spell: Dragonfire Armour

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

Level 5 Named Personal Achievement

Create a Master Level Shadow Spell - First 1000 (2, Sapphire)

You have completed the Achievement Create a Master Level Shadow Spell. You are one of the first 1000 players to gain this achievement. This is your first Level 5 NPA ‘First 1000’

Reward 1: 500 x 322 = 656880 (+308%) Experience Points (2890816/5850000)

Reward 2: 10 Gold x 1 = 10 Gold

Reward 3: +1% to Experience Points

Reward 4: 50 Fame Points (271615 FP)

You have achieved the title: Master Mage of Shadow

You have created the spell: Shadow Armour

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

Level 5 Named Personal Achievement

Skill - Merge Spells - First 1000 (2, Sapphire)

Atherleah (Level 322) You have learned the skill of merging spells. This is your second Level 5 NPA ‘First 1000’

Reward 1: 500 x 322 = 658490 (+309%) Experience Points (3549306/5850000)

Reward 2: 10 Gold x 2 = 20 Gold

Reward 3: +1% to Experience Points

Reward 4: 50 Fame Points (271565 FP)

You have achieved the title: Spell Merger

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

Level 5 Named Personal Achievement

Skill - Stack Spells - First 10 (2, Diamond)

Atherleah (Level 322) You have learned the skill of stacking spells. This is your second Level 5 NPA ‘First 10’

Reward 1: 5000 x 322 = 6601000 (+310%) Experience Points (5850000/5850000)(4300306/5950000)

Reward 2: 10 Gold x 2 = 20 Gold

Reward 3: +3% to Experience Points

Reward 4: 500 Fame Points (272065 FP)

You have achieved the title: Stacker of Spells

A Commemorative Plaque has been placed in your bag.

Leah read through the spells and then stepped through the portal. She’d expected to find herself in either a tunnel system or even a maze with hedges, but instead, she arrived at a set of stairs similar to that which led to the Court of Courtiers. In fact, when she looked behind her, she could see another set leading in the other direction. She put her first foot on the first step of those in front of her.

Atherleah (Level 323) Before you see the king, you must navigate through the Labyrinth of Lords. Lords are the most influential nobles in the city. Each of them is responsible for managing their own households, which include a section of land outside the city. In addition, they each have a particular responsibility toward the management of the city. Unlike the courtiers who spend their lives basking in the glory of the King, the Lords are continually comparing themselves to Somur T’kan himself. They hope to find him wanting and perhaps to ascend to his position. They follow his orders and many are loyal to the city and its citizens. Nonetheless, they are divided into ever-changing factions looking for an opportunity to increase their own position, power or prestige. It should be noted that the term ‘Lords’ is an anachronism from previous times and that some of the ranking Lords, are in fact, women.

The natural enemy of a lord is someone beyond their ability to manipulate or control. These stairs lead to the palace offices where the lords conduct business. All ten lords have been advised of your quest to claim the city for yourself. Should they wish to talk with you, there will be an usher standing outside their door waiting for you. The rooms are organised in order of rank. You should first visit the first room on the lefthand side and then the first on the right. If there is no usher, then you should continue through the pattern.

Each of the lords brings with them ten attendants. The lords will not attack you in any way, and it is advisable not to bring violence to bear against them. They may, however, for reasons of their own, direct their attendants to attack you. They could do this at any time. This hall of Lords has many interconnecting passages and, at times, one lord will support another. Be wary. A lord may decline to attack you in his own room and will instead attack you after having joined forces with an ally. It is not as easy as some think to navigate through this labyrinth of power. You must exit the room at the far end to move to the fifth level.

Leah made her way up the rest of the stairs and looked down a long wide corridor. A quick count showed ten ushers, each standing outside one of the doors. She moved quickly to the first snake on the left. He was eight metres in length, and instead of scales was covered in a thick fur. His head was shaped like a snake except for the mouth. This was shaped like that of a dog and when he opened his mouth the teeth were that of a wolf.

LADY ATIK’S USHER - WOLFSNAKE (Level 350) 367500/367500 HP (17500 EP) - (Lady Atik has 10/10 attendants)

The usher turned toward Leah and said, “Welcome Claimant Atherleah. Lady Atik is expecting you.”

Leah followed the snake into the room. It was a large room and had six snake guards around the room, one in each corner and two at the far end behind the Lady Atik who was coiled behind a desk. There were three less opulent desks along the length of the room, and an attendant was behind each of these. The guards were all Tigersnakes, while those behind all four desks were Wolfsnakes.

Leah made her way carefully past the desks and stopped in front of Lady Atik’s desk. The usher stopped and stood behind Leah’s left shoulder.

LADY ATIK - WOLFSNAKE - MINISTER OF WASTE (Level 420) 529200/529200 HP (21000 EP) - (Lady Atik has 10/10 attendants)

Lady Atik said, “Claimant Atherleah, thank you for taking the time to visit with me.

“It is my pleasure, Lady Atik.”

“Many of the lords will be wanting to know your position on matters relating to their own interests, but I am only interested in the importance that you place on the important matter of waste and its disposal within a city like ours.”

“Well, I am sure that you know much more than I, but I can describe the principals by which I would approach the issue of waste and its disposal.”

“Thank you, knowing this would help me prepare appropriately should your claim be upheld.”

“It is really very simple. First, citizens are primarily responsible for their own waste. Second, a citizen’s waste should not inconvenience another citizen in any way. Third, citizens have a responsibility to uphold the city’s standards for the disposal of waste. Fourth, if the city provides a service to help citizens carry out their responsibilities, then citizens will pay for the service if they avail themselves of a service provided or they must carry out their duties by themselves. After that, it is a matter of agreeing on an appropriate set of standards.”

“Pardon, but perhaps you forgot our ability to enforce behaviour and payment.”

“No, I suggest those responsible for waste, deal with waste. Let those who enforce, enforce. If you arrange it any other way, then corruption is hard to unmask.”

Lady Atik had a few more questions and then looking behind Leah said, “Thank you for your time, Claimant Atherleah. I hope your visits are all pleasant.”

As Lady Atik nodded to Leah, Leah, feeling warned by the strange look Lady Atik had made to someone behind her, took a step to her right and the usher’s snapping jaws only grazed her left arm and were deflected by the armour. Leah turned as she equipped the Amber Dragon and cut off the usher’s head before he could regain his balance. With a quick look around the room, she noted that none of the other members of Lady Atik’s group of attendants had even moved.

Leah looked up at Lady Atik and said, “I’ve made a mess, but please don't worry because I clean up my own mess.” Then she harvested the usher and made her way out the door.

As she crossed the room to the second office, she summoned two of Lord Kötü’s Level Three Minions and commanded them to guard her back. The waiting usher welcomed Leah and asked her to follow him

LORD SOKAK’S USHER - ANACONAN (Level 351) 369603/369603 HP (17550 EP) - (Lord Sokak has 10/10 attendants)

As soon as Leah entered the room, the usher and four guards attacked. Leah was ready and cast Circle of Sloth and stepped to her right, allowing the two minions to attack those on the left while she dealt with two on her right. She cast Freeze twice and then brought the Amber Dragon down on the hibernating snakes, shattering them into small pieces. When Leah killed the last of the attendants, she harvested them and saw the remaining snakes all calmly watching her. As she approached the desk, the Lord rose a little higher on his coils and greeted her.

LORD SOKAK - COBRAZOR - MINISTER OF ROADS (Level 432) 529200/529200 HP (21000 EP) - (Lord Sokak has 5/10 attendants)

Lord Sokak seemed interested in Leah’s views on Roads and thanked her for visiting without any other attacks.

Leah moved from room to room. Several times she left the room without being attacked, but in the fifth room, which belonged to Lord Sahte, the Minister of Magic, Leah was attacked not only by the ten mages who attended the Minister of Magic but another seven from the previous offices she'd visited. Leah freely used Chain Lightning because she had no fear it would arc and strike the minister. She survived by making her way to the corner of the room and continually summoning guards and restricting the number of snakes who could attack at any one time. Twice more she was attacked by more than ten snakes, at the offices of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Justice. As she left the last office, a portal appeared on the end wall. Leah had been attacked by eighty-one of the one-hundred attendants. She waited until she was fully recovered, and then stepped through the portal to the fifth level.

Leah arrived standing on a circular platform, which was lifted ten metres above the floor of the long narrow hall. At the far end, she could see a wide throne with an Amphisbaena reclining on it. Both heads wore a crown, and they were looking at her. Between Leah and the throne was an obstacle course. Along the path was a series of platforms similar to the one she was standing on. On each of the platforms, a snake was coiled and waiting. These were the first snakes she’d seen who were covered fully in chainmail and armour. Between Leah and the first guardian was a five-metre-long peeled and smoothed tree bole. It had a diameter of forty centimetres and was held horizontally between the two platforms by a metal rod which had been run through a hole bored along its axis. In the space above the tree trunk were six large moon-shaped metal blades swinging back and forth, each a heavy pendulum bob.

Leah took a step forward.

Atherleah (Level 324), King Somur T’kan is protected by his guardians. Their only purpose is to protect the King. You come uninvited to claim his city and so you must face his protectors. If you succeed in defeating the guardians and if you are able to approach the King both uninvited and with a weapon in your hand, then you will have defeated him. To reach the King, you must complete the Gauntlet of Champions.

Leah took another step and then carefully placed her foot on the log. It rotated easily under her foot. At that moment she was thankful for all her training with Jimmy’s boys. They had used something similar when teaching her balance. She watched the blades until she had the pattern fixed in her mind. There was only one place where she had to stop. In every other case she only needed to slow down or speed up. Instead of stopping, she decided she’d step backwards and then start walking again because it would be easier to maintain her balance if she kept moving. Leah let the blades swing through another sequence as she once more counted out the movements.

Leah waited for the beginning of the sequence and then stepped onto the log and walked straight down the centre, using her arms and torso to keep herself centred. As she walked, she counted out the time in her head. Twenty seconds later Leah stepped on to the platform with the champion. It was a Level 365 Anaconan with a large two-handed sword. She expected it to attack her immediately, but instead, it said, “Atherleah, you may not approach the King uninvited or with a weapon. Turn back or be prepared to defend yourself.”

Leah didn’t say anything. Instead, she equipped her sword and waited. The Anaconan attacked with a swift downward strike. Leah parried with the Amber Dragon and was surprised not only by the strength of the attack, which drove her backwards half-a-step but by the resilience of the snake’s weapon. Usually, the Amber Dragon either cut slivers from the other sword or snapped them completely. The Guardian’s sword looked undamaged. Leah had no time to ponder the weapon's resilience as the Anaconan’s tail swept Leah’s feet from under her and then its sword was descending toward her torso. Leah rolled twice towards the snake to change the angle of the strike. On the second roll, she noticed the Anaconan was lifting itself using its coils, and the sword was now going to miss the floor and catch her through the middle. Leah misted her torso as she changed direction and rolled away from the snake letting the sword pass through her. She got to her feet as the snake’s flexible body and skill brought the blade around in a horizontal sweep.

Leah cast Dragonfire toward its face to gain some time for her to step back out of danger. She summoned two minions and equipped her bow. She only got one shot away before she had to dive out of the way of the sweeping tail. The arrow Leah shot was one of the new ones, and it had an adamantine point. It caught the Anaconan high on the right side of his chest, but even though it pierced the armour, it didn’t penetrate more than a few centimetres. The snake’s next swipe killed both minions and forced Leah back a step. She equipped her new mage staff and cast Tangle to trap the lower half of the guardian. Hampered by the vegetation, its next stroke had less momentum, and Leah was able to parry and then follow through with a lunge through the snake’s torso.

The Amber Dragon cut through the armour but not with the ease Leah was used to. As she stepped back from her lunge, she had to duck a sweeping arm as the snake held the sword with one hand to achieve a swifter retaliation. One of the Anaconan’s claws momentarily caught on Leah’s armour as it sliced across her back and she was sent staggering to one side. She took a step to steady herself, the snake used this time to hack at the vegetation and free himself. Leah summoned another two minions and cast Chain Lightning. When the Anaconan reared back, she lunged again, and this time as the blade passed through the snake’s armour. She cast Dragonfire through the sword. The guardian’s health dropped by ten per cent. Leah stepped back and cast Tangle a second time before she had to block an upward swinging arm. Her sword sliced through the armour with difficulty but she did reduce the snake’s health.

The fight continued for several minutes and was a real battle of attrition. Leah had become used to fighting creatures above her level but a forty point difference added to the elite armour, speed and skills of the guardian was almost too much for her. In the end, she persevered because of the combination of vampire abilities, magery, and sword, because the sword alone, even with her agility, would not have been enough. As the Anaconan finally slipped to the floor after sliding off Leah’s sword, Leah sank to her knees exhausted.

Several minutes later she stood, and before harvesting the snake, she took a potion of Luck because she wanted to see if she’d be able to harvest his sword. Over the last few days, she’d not been paying much attention to the large amount of loot she’d gathered, but she’d been impressed with the sword’s durability.

You have harvested:

1 Set of Guardian armour

1 Great Sword of Valour

2 Vials of Anaconan Blood (7, 1)*

1 Platinum coin minted with an image of King Somur T’kan

10 Gold coins minted with an image of King Somur T’kan

1 A Speed Spell for Attack

*As a vampire, when you drink this you will have a serpent’s flexibility for one hour.

Leah had stopped reading the descriptions and realised her mistake. There were a lot of valuable items she’d not taken advantage of. A quick check of her inventory showed she had enough vials of blood to keep her flexible for a long time. Leah looked at the Speed Spell, and when cast during a battle it increased the speed of any attacking stroke for the duration of the spell. She studied the spell and swallowed one of the vials of blood. She didn’t feel any different and she moved the same. She asked Gèng to check the Dunyanin site, and there was a description of how to use a flexibility potion. Leah read the explanation and then holding her arm in front of her she visualised it ending forward in an arc. As she pictured it, her arm bent as she'd envisioned and she still had the strength and control to swing the sword. She decided that experimenting in a real battle probably wasn’t wise, but she knew it would be very handy if she learnt to use it effectively.

She was almost healed so she looked toward the next platform. Between the two was a series of stepping stones held aloft by poles attached to a device on the floor which moved the steps back and forth and side to side. Hanging above the stones were three large basketball-sized spiked metal balls. These were moving in concentric circles over the steps. Leah watched the motion for several minutes before jumping to the first step. As it moved forward she leapt to the third step, and then back to the second to avoid being hit by one of the balls. Then back to the third and so on. It took her about half a minute, but she finally made it to the second platform with a guardian.

This guardian was a Medusal Viper, and she was almost a foot and a half taller than Leah and carried a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. She warned Leah in the same manner and then attacked when Leah stood her ground. The fight was another long one, and although Leah won, she needed to take a restore potion to overcome the venom in her system from several viper bites. On most occasions when she’d attacked, one of the small snakes which had made up the Medusal Viper would strike out and latch on to her hand or arm.

The path to the third platform was through a square tunnel which was slightly taller than Leah. Long blades moved in and out of the tunnel walls as well as from the roof and the floor. Although Leah watched for almost five minutes, she couldn’t see a pattern. She tried to freeze one of the blades, but her spell just slid off the weapon. This time she would need to stay alert and agile. Leah stepped into the tunnel, and even using the snake flexibility she’d gained from the blood, she still suffered wounds to her arms and legs. As she stepped onto the platform, she was met by a ten-armed Deathadder with a blade in each hand.

Although Leah started the battle with less than perfect health, her ability to interweave magic and weapons again proved to be the deciding factor. She could see the waiting guardian on the next platform, and it was a new type of snake, a Daggerback Wyrm. It had red and orange scales arranged in a squashed diamond pattern so that the diamond resembled long double-bladed daggers. The scales which weren’t touching the ground moved and shifted to extrude sharp spikes and blades. The head was that of a dragon with a sharp bird-like beak. A stream of smoke drifted from its nostrils and there was an aura of mana shifting around its eyes.

On each side of the space between Leah and the guardian was a wall riddled with holes. Long spears were repeatedly thrust through the holes, and there was no path across, only a set of monkey bars hanging in the space between the platforms. Leah had to leap to grab the first bar. She had to concentrate as she slowly moved from bar to bar, twisting and bending to avoid the spears. She found the snake flexibility was the only thing that saved her at times, and even so, she had a nasty wound in her side and a gash on one cheek by the time she swung herself from the bars and onto the platform.

After the same speech the Daggerback attacked. During the duel Leah found the wyrm to be just as adroit at mixing magical attacks and swift darting strikes. The deciding factor though was the variety of spells and the snake’s lack of limbs to hold a distance attack. It did breathe fire and the blades on its scales were able to slice through Leah’s armour and caused long, though shallow, cuts. Leah finally killed it after casting a Duel Freeze spell while holding her new staff.

There was only one more platform, and Leah was looking forward to it. She’d found the last four fights the most challenging and exciting duels she’d experienced for some time. They showed her that even with her new armour and weapons, she would be entering the Merkize contest at a considerable disadvantage. To get to the final guardian, a Boamazonian with a trident in one hand and a shield in the other, there was another passageway with a wall on each side. This time the walls didn’t have holes but were scattered with a variety of hand and foot holds. They looked to Leah like the bouldering wall John had once constructed to teach people how to move up and along walls. Both walls curved inwards toward the top to form overhangs.

To make the challenge more difficult, she could see two blades which were positioned to be sent swinging along the length of the walls. The blades were positioned to swing near to the walls, and Leah would need to leap from one side to the other to avoid being swept off the wall. Leah wasn’t very confident and thought of misting across, but after she tried a message informed her that her Misting ability had been switched off during this challenge. Eventually, she leapt for the left-hand side and caught a grip up high with one hand. She was able to stretch an arm out and grip onto a small ledge and then find a place to put one of her feet before she saw the blade sliding along the wall. Crouching down on the foothold, Leah leapt for a grip on the right-hand wall. She succeeded in holding on but was too low to repeat the move and used the time she had to pull herself up and find a higher perch before leaping back to the left side.

By repeating this left and right, back and forth, up and down pattern, she slowly made her way across to the final platform. When she finally arrived, she was exhausted and both her Stamina and Ki were low. This time, when the guardian said, “Atherleah, you may not approach the King uninvited or with a weapon. Turn back or be prepared to defend yourself. ” Leah responded.

She said, “I’m not going to turn back but could you give me a minute to recuperate before I defend myself?”

The guardian lowered the base of her trident to the platform and said, “Of course, to do otherwise would be dishonourable. You have fought well and shown both courage and skill.”

Leah took several deep breaths and said, “You guardians are well trained. It has been a challenge getting here, and there were times I didn’t think I’d survive.”

“We have practised for a long time to hone our skills. We take the responsibility of guarding the ruler of Yilinlar very seriously.”

“I’m disappointed I’ve had to kill each of you.”

“Don’t be too dismayed. We have all taken a variant of the Phoenix potion, and although we will have to buy or make new armour and weapons, the ruler of Yilinlar will remain under our protection.”

Leah’s statistics were almost full, so she said, “Thank you for waiting. I will be ready in just a moment. Any hints about the best way to beat a trident?”

“Of course Claimant Atherleah, I will give you the same advice I give to every trainee. ‘Don’t find yourself stuck on the pointy end.’”

Leah chuckled and took up a ready stance as she said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As soon as she’d finished speaking the Level 370 Boamazonian struck. Leah had never given the trident much attention as a weapon, and she was surprised to find that the outside edges of the external tines had been filed razor sharp and the guardian not only used the weapon to thrust and jab but also used it to block, parry and slice. Leah lost the Amber Dragon several minutes into the fight when the tall Boamazonian caught the blade between two tines and with a twist of her wrist wrenched it from Leah’s grasp. Leah equipped her other sword and continued.

Leah wasn’t outmatched though, and just as she received damage from cuts and bruises so also did the Boamazonian. Leah’s attacks left burns, cuts, broken scales and pierced armour along with damage from shadow and lightning. Leah found that discovering that the warrior would be revived gave her a boost and a freedom she didn’t realise she’d been lacking. Leah ended the battle when she managed to sink the battle axe into the top of the Boamazonian’s head after enclosing her in a mass of Tangle vines and slowing her down by a combination of Freeze and Circle of Sloth.

Once she’d harvested the guardian, the platform slowly descended into the floor of the great hall. She found herself standing before King Somur T’kan.

KING SOMUR T’KAN - AMPHISBAENA - SON OF GECKIŞ (Level 1196) 1430416 HP (59800 EP)

He spoke out of both faces, and although the words were the same, they were not quite in time and sounded like they were from two different aspects of his personality. One sounded sarcastic and angry while the other was more petulant and dismissive. “Oh well done, Claimant. You have passed all the levels, and you've beaten me. I am a King and try not to get my hands sullied so I won't fight you personally. For defeating me, I would normally give you a great reward and then send you on your way while I wait for the next warrior. You still get the prize, but you have decided you want to wrest the crown from my head and take away my city. I know you only chose this because of my father, and I'll give you the opportunity right now to stop this claimant quest and leave. If you do, I will increase the size of your reward fourfold. If you still want to be my father's lackey, then you must descend into the Crypt behind my throne and somehow survive the Crypt of Corpses. Of course, if you do survive, then I will transfer my life force into one of my crowns, and you can have the other. Then you can carry me to daddy, and I won't have to put up with your prattle on the way. So what is your choice? A guaranteed fourfold treasure or the chance of only a quarter the wealth?”

“Your majesty, I always try and keep my promises. I started this to claim the city, and that is what I will try and do.”

“So shall it be then. Here is your reward for defeating my Royal Guardians.”

A chest appeared before Leah. She took a luck potion and opened it.

You have opened a chest - Your reward for defeating King Somur T’kan:

1 Diamond coin minted with an image of King Somur T’kan.

2 Platinum coins minted with an image of King Somur T’kan.

4 Gold coins minted with an image of King Somur T’kan.

8 Silver coins minted with an image of King Somur T’kan.

16 Copper coins minted with an image of King Somur T’kan.

4 Charged Darkness Diamond - Air, Earth, Life, and Shadow

1 Spell of Resurrection

1 Collection of Vatan’s Deadliest Venoms - 15 Vials

Somur T’kan said, “You'll need that luck in the Crypt, and I'm going to stay right here on my throne while you go visit it. It'll only be yours if you return.”

Leah walked around the King, and just behind the throne was an opening in the ground with stairs leading into the dark. Leah equipped her blue-trimmed armour and started down the steps.

Atherleah (Level 324) you walk into the Crypt of Corpses. At the foot of the stairs, you will come to a crossroads. You may turn left or right. If you choose correctly, you will come to the casket containing the corpse of the first Ruler of Yilinlar. After paying your respects continue through the crypt. If you find yourself back at the stairway, then you have successfully completed the Crypt of Corpses. If not, then you are dead. You will receive 19000 Experience points for each crypt you repay your respects to.

When Leah got to the bottom of the stairs, there was a T-junction with a corridor running left and right. She peered down both and couldn’t see far enough in either direction to see which one held the crypt. The floor was solid stone, as were the walls and the roof. She moved slowly and checked each surface. Finally, she noticed some marks on the wall in front of her. They looked like the chisel marks which covered the surface, but they seemed deeper and longer as if they'd been made with a differently sized chisel. Leah went over the section of wall and found twelve such marks. All of them were angled except for one. She pondered the marks and then traced over them with her finger.

Finally, she nodded and turning left, she began walking down the corridor. She soon came to a large alcove on the right side of the tunnel, and there was a longer than usual gold-plated stone coffin. Leah walked around the coffin and saw described in stories the life of the first King of Yilinlar, the Amphisbaena, King Ö’nde Gelen. She paid attention to the different pictures and noticed that in all of them, the King's faces always looked to his left. After she’d finished the story, she looked over the top and again both his facial effigies showed the right profile. On top of the casket and in the centre was a square block set higher than the rest. The top of the box had thirty-six upraised sections with some markings around the edges. Some of the upraised sections had what looked like small arrows.

Again, Leah looked for a while and then took out a parchment, and after some time reached up and pressed eight of the upraised sections. As she pushed on them, they started to glow, and when she touched the last one, a small drawer shot out from under the raised part. Inside was a Diamond coin and a square of jade. Leah took them both and pushed the drawer back in. She couldn’t find any message or mark which identified what the square was for, so she put both in her bag and moved on. Soon she came to another T-junction. Facing out from the wall was an effigy of King Ö’nde Gelen.

Leah was about to turn left and then looked at the effigy again. If he were to look left, then he would be looking down the corridor on her right. She took a breath and turned right. She realised she'd decided correctly only when she came to another alcove.

In it was displayed the casket of the second amphisbaena to rule Yilinlar, Queen Ikinci Nota. The story had the queen facing in both directions, and Leah was unable to find anything else which gave her a hint. On the top was another gold box. This one had a poem inscribed on its cover.

Queen Ikinci Nota desired most
what every subject possessed.

It is the outcome of every battle.

Its warmth ignited her passion
and its burning brought forth her fury.

Its loss brought forth death.

Underneath was a small hollowed section. Eventually, after pondering the riddle for some time, Leah took her knife, and after making a shallow cut on her hand, she let the blood drip into the hollowed space. Again, a drawer opened, and this time there was a small red spell book which had once belonged to the Master Blood Mage, Queen Ikinci Nota. Next to the book was a triangle made from Jade. Leah moved on until she came to the next T-Junction. She quickly found the next clue, which was chiselled in the wall in front of her.

She once again turned right.

Each coffin gave her a clue and a puzzle, a riddle or a challenge. Each had the small drawer of gifts and a piece of jade. She received seven pieces altogether, five triangles in three different sizes, a square and a parallelogram. At every junction, she had to go either left or right. The eighth coffin she approached belonged to İki Tarafda, the last Queen of Yılanlar. She looked at the story which told of the queen's early years followed by her love of Geckiş, the birth of her children and her final days spent away from her lover but content with her people. On top of her coffin was much larger square. It was a cube, and on its cover, a shape was carved.

Leah took out the jade pieces. They were the Tangram shapes she remembered from her childhood. She quickly rearranged them and placed them into the outline. They sunk into the cube and a much larger drawer opened. Inside this was a crown made from a single piece of Jade. Carefully, Leah took the crown from the drawer and saw that underneath it was a letter addressed to Somur T’kan. Fairly sure she had finished the quest, she started down the corridor and soon came a set of stairs to her left.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she received two messages:

Level 5 Dungeon Achievement - First 1 (5, Painite)

Atherleah (Level 224) You are the first player to complete this area - Level 5 Dungeon - Challenge the Serpent King

This is your fifth, 'First 1 (Painite)’ achievement.

Reward 1: 5000 x 324 = 6690600 (+313%) Experience Points (6050000/6050000)(6011906/6150000)

Reward 2: + 4% to all future Experience

Reward 3: 5 x 1 Diamond = 5 Diamond

Reward 4: 5000 Fame (277065)

Note: This achievement will be published on the Dunyanin achievement forum.

Atherleah (Level 325) you have successfully completed the World Quest: Claim an Ancient City - Yilanlar

(Please see player specific note 1).

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

Reward 1: (1) x (325) x 10000 Experience Points (+317%) = 13552500.

Reward 2: You will be acknowledged as ruler of the city and receive 10000 Fame Points. (287065)

Reward 3: You will receive a portion of all revenue generated by the city. Please visit the Administrative Control Centre and review the settings.

Note 1: Players will be free to challenge for ownership of the city.

Note 2: Subsequent loss of the city will not result in the loss of Experience Points or already collected revenue.

Note 3: Should you reclaim the city a second time, you will receive no additional reward of experience points but will be eligible to receive revenue as ruler of the city.

Additional notes specific to the player Atherleah (Level 325):

1. Your claim of the Elfaun City of Dag Tarafind is not eligible to be included in this quest due to the unique nature of your claim.

2. The successful claim is part of your mission on behalf of Lord Geckiş but does not complete that mission.

3. The successful claim will impact the Unique Hidden Odyssey: Journey to Merkize. This city is not on your list of cities to claim, and therefore it is eligible to be added to this quest. It is however included on the list owned by another contestant. To complete their list, they will need to defeat you for control of the city.

Leah finished climbing the steps and walked around to the front of the throne where Somur T’kan was waiting. When he saw the jade crown, he slithered from the throne and said in a much more normal voice, “My mother’s crown! Returning alive would have been enough to rule the city. Bringing back her crown makes you its queen. Atherleah, you are a claimant no more, for Yilinlar is yours. I know you have a task from my father and I will not resist it any more. When you leave, I will leave with you, but I would ask a boon. Your people will need time to prepare for your coronation. Would you give them until the sun rises tomorrow to get ready? I will transfer my life force after the coronation.”

Leah said, “I will give them until tomorrow, Somur T’kan, son of İki Tarafda, Queen of Yılanlar. There are still several hours before I need to retire for the night. If you would show me to the control room and then leave me with an attendant in case I need something? I would also appreciate it if a room be could prepared where I can spend the night.”

“The Royal Suites are already prepared, your Majesty. Please allow me to show the way. Your guards are waiting there for you. Afterwards, I will take you to the control room, and they can return with you to the suite at your convenience.”

Leah followed Somur T’kan out through a side door, and they soon approached a large set of doors guarded by two large snakes, a Boamazonian and a Daggerback Wyrm. Neither of them were wearing armour, but they both had solid and serviceable weapons. Leah looked at the large Boamazonian and said, “I see you have returned.”

“I have, your Majesty. I am Alkaia Tutmak, Head of the Royal Guardians.”

Leah reached into her bag and pulled out Alkaia’s armour, trident and shield and said, “I prefer my Guardians to be properly prepared to defend themselves. Take these as a gift.”

Leah then handed the Daggerback its armour and said, “I am going to review some details in the control room.”

Somur T’kan led the way and both guardians followed. It wasn’t far and they were soon standing outside a door. It opened as Somur T’kan and Leah approached. The two guardians remained outside, and Somur T’kan handed Leah a sceptre similar to the one she used at the Ebony House. He said, “This gives access to the room, and it now belongs to you.”

Somur T’kan turned to leave, but Leah raised a hand to stop him and said, “Somur T’kan, take this letter. It was in the Crypt, and I believe it is from your mother.”

After he had taken the letter and left, Leah walked around the table which was much larger than the one she’d used before. Leah placed the Sceptre in a hole she found near one edge, and the table lit from within. Besides a long list of settings to manage the city, there was a large 3D model of the area which appeared at one end of the table. It took almost an hour to review the settings and consider what changes she wanted to make. Before finishing everything, she opened the door and asked Alkaia to join her. Alkaia had been in the room before and was able to offer some advice about a few things Leah hadn’t understood.

Finally, Leah thought she had the concepts worked out, and she said, “Alkaia, tomorrow I will be crowned Queen of Yilinlar, and yet I have responsibilities in all of Vatan. I have met the Lords, and I’m not inclined to leave any of them in charge as regent in my absence. I have some larger plans for the city, but I need someone in place to ensure they get accomplished. Do you have a suggestion?”

Alkaia made a brief comment on the few Lords she might trust and then mentioned some other Lords she thought might have the ability to lead if Leah dismissed one of the current ten as unsuitable. Finally, Leah said, “I do have someone in mind but what if they don’t want the responsibility?”

“Give them no choice, your majesty. You are the Queen.”

“That is good advice Alkaia, thank you. I’m going to ask the Regent to rebuild and start the city above. It is time Yilinlar rejoined the world.”

“Then you will need to order the person to be regent because that will be an enormous responsibility and undertaking.”

Leah just nodded, removed the sceptre and followed Alkaia to the Royal Suites. As soon as she was alone, she lay on the bed and got comfortable before closing her eyes and logging out.

21

December 16, 2073 - Part 3

REAL WORLD

As soon as she was back in the Tower, she logged out. Mia was dozing in a chair and got up as the Pod lid opened. She called Marie and together they helped Leah shower and put on a robe. Marie went and got some lunch for Leah while Mia checked the different wounds. Leah had to take some more antibiotics, and Mia changed one of the dressings which had come loose in the Pod. Marie helped Leah get back into the Pod. Leah was ready to get back to Pneumatica because she had some unfinished business with the Emersons.

THE STORK TOWER

Before she could use the SPIDER Gèng said, “Leah, before you head to Pneumatica, Stephen has a tentative agreement with Dunyanin on the Lanetli. Reed and Tesfaye have everything they need to set up the contact with Alan, but I suggest you wait another day. Leo sent an overview of what the different lobby groups want, and he said that it is feasible but wants your feedback. Finally, I wanted to discuss the issue of your nanites.”

Leah took out her virtual tablet and started reading the documents. After consciously accessing the PAI chip's processor she continued to read and said, “I agree that contacting Alan can wait. Please thank them and suggest tomorrow but say I’ll need to confirm that in the morning because the Merkize competition is in the afternoon. I’ve finished the proposal by Leo and agree that we can probably satisfy both groups with a little bit of creativity. If the government had actually looked at their proposals openly, they could have reused the property a long time ago. What about the nanites?”

“The ones you have were supposed to complete their work of installing the PAI chip and then shut down and get flushed from your system. With the schematics I was given when I was installed, I’ve been able to repurpose them. Theoretically, they are supposed to remain viable for six months. Yours have been re-tasked several times, and the number of operational nanites is diminishing faster than expected. If you include the number that were lost due to blood loss, then I estimate you’ll run out of nanites within a month.

“Normally that wouldn’t be a problem as most people never have them retasked and almost all of what I’ve asked them to do is still experimental and has never been made public. You have three options—you can do without, you could buy some more, or we could make them.”

“I understand the first option, but where would we buy them from and how could we make them?”

“They aren’t available for sale to the public, but I believe Dr Roberts could purchase them for research purposes. I’m sure John Welford would be open to helping us get some, but that would give him some leverage. I think the best thing would be to make them. The same data that gave me their designs and allowed me to retask them has a description of their construction and file which includes their initial programming. Each piece of equipment is multipurpose. I suggest you purchase them for the research facility and hide the possible connection among all the other equipment you'll be buying.”

“OK, go ahead and let Leon know I’d like them and tell him to hold off on ordering any equipment for the aether dimension machine. I’ve already given him a list and have suggested that if he saw anything at a discounted price, he should start buying it, but the modelling I did earlier today suggests there may be a better way of creating the aether dimensions, so there is no need to get all the equipment just yet.

"I read the proposal from Dunyanin and have sent Stephen the OK to proceed. Can you double check with Peter about the artwork for the coins? Send him a short video summary of Yilinlar and the dungeon and see if he can add a Yilinlar coin.”

Gèng said, “You’ve been quick to make use of the multitasking ability. I noticed you were working while you had lunch and talking to Marie and Mia.”

“It’s strange but my brain doesn’t think it’s that strange. It’s like it was always capable but was missing a switch somewhere.”

Gèng had no other matters that were urgent, so Leah used the SPIDER and entered Pneumatica.

PNEUMATICA

When Leah left her bedroom she was wearing one of the everyday outfits she’d bought in the city because she didn’t know what she would need for the day until she’d talked with Billy. Howard was waiting in the suite's day room.

He said, “Excuse me Captain, but both Mister Bartle and a young lady are waiting in the foyer. Shall I show them in or would you rather I offer them another time when they might visit?”

“Please show them up, and maybe a cup of tea would be appropriate.”

“As you wish, Captain.”

Soon, Billy showed up with a young woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties and Billy introduced her as Katherine. Leah thought she looked vaguely familiar and assumed she’d been one of the people Billy had used to keep a watch over her and the others when they were shopping.

He said, “Captain, I received your note and although we visited yesterday we must have missed you.”

“You are kind to mention my failure to be present without even a touch of discord. I had every intention of being present, but the aether worlds are as prone to contention as is this world. I was laid low with an injury and could not in good conscience disregard the stern council of my physician. Even now, his countenance is somewhat disheartened at my intemperate haste to once again visit Aeolipile. I do, however, wish to apologise for my absence and beg your indulgence that we might continue our partnership.”

“There is nothing to forgive when fate’s river descends upon us. There is no man, nor woman, who can row against such a race. If you are still indisposed we could perhaps visit at a more agreeable time.”

“Such are the inexplicable workings of the aether worlds that I am a model of health here and still abed when I return to my world. I am mindful of the ball this evening and had hoped to procure a small item before I have the opportunity to be introduced at such a gathering.”

“I am hopeful of your swift recovery from whatever malady continues to make itself known to you. As to the item you desire, I suggest that even without knowledge of the particulars, it would be better to wait until a more opportune moment. I cannot think of a locale among the documents I gave you that would not be better approached in the darkness of night.”

“It is as you say. Still, to wait idly for an opportunity instead of working fervently to create it seems the avenue of the indolent and the actions of one unwilling to make their own destiny. Fear not that I would rush carelessly into a lion’s den. I have some experience and will only attempt that which I believe has a good chance of bearing fruit.”

Billy turned to Katherine and said, “If you are still willing to assist without the cover of night then I suggest we listen to the Captain’s plan as I have found her to be neither a braggart nor unskilled.”

Leah watched as Katherine paused to consider the situation, but it wasn’t until she spoke that Leah understood that Katherine was also a player. Her accent was different from the NPCs’ and seemed Australian, although more refined than Leah was used to in the Switch. Katherine said, “I would like to hear the plan before deciding, and I know you believe I need more experience.”

Billy agreed, “You are my most adept pupil, but the Captain has quicker hands than any I’ve seen, and her recent accomplishments suggest that this will be a most rewarding experience for you.”

Leah said, “Billy, I appreciate your kind description of my own accomplishments and would find it most helpful if you could provide a similar summary of Katherine’s abilities.”

“Katherine has been an apprentice of mine for more than a year. I consider her almost ready to step out on her own. That is, as long as she remembers not to stray into my territory without permission. In fact, I was going to suggest that if she was successful while assisting you that she might be well served to relieve Mistress Westmorten of the strain of running her small business now that her son has left her understaffed. Katherine is quick, agile, intelligent and she is a good fighter, an excellent pocket, and skilled at entering premises without causing a disturbance.”

Leah had been studying Katherine closely even as her eyes were directed at Billy, and so she was aware when Katherine’s reciprocal interest met with some success. It appeared that Katherine had recognised her.

Leah said, “Billy, your recommendation is highly favourable, and I thank you for the confidence you show in me that you would advise your apprentice to learn from me. Please do not take it amiss or allow yourself to feel disheartened when I ask that you indulge me one small thing and allow me to have a private moment with Katherine. I promise that I will not discuss any details as regards my planned excursion. But we are both from the aether worlds, and we are both women and some things should be brought into the open if we are to be successful in forging a successful relationship.”

Katherine said, “I understand some of what the Captain is alluding to, but I’m not confident that we will be able to overcome our differences.”

Billy had turned sharply to look at Katherine as she spoke, not only because of what she said but also because her voice had grown hard and cold.

Billy leaned forward as if he was about to stand when Leah said, “Stay seated Mr Bartle. You are my guest. Let it be Katherine and me who retire into my suite for our discussion.”

Billy said, “Captain, I believe she has some strong reservations, and maybe we should leave so that I might look to provide an alternate assistant to give you aid.”

“You may be right Mr Bartle, but Katherine and I should come to some agreement before she leaves. It is the only thing which might prevent future disharmony.”

Billy looked at Leah, and then at Katherine who was glaring at Leah. Finally, Katherine said, “I’ll go with her, Billy, but when we leave, you and I, we have to talk if you still want to keep helping her.”

Leah didn’t understand Katherine’s anger, but she stood and led the way into her bedroom. She motioned for Katherine to take the reading chair while she sat on the bed and curled her leg underneath her.

Leah said, “I know you recognised me and I’ve been trying to think who you could be because your face seems very familiar to me. What have I ever done to you? If it is as bad as you’re making out, then, it should have stuck in my brain somewhere.”

Gèng spoke silently to Leah and said, “I know why she is familiar and I suggest you be very cautious. I think she’ll tell you herself, but if she doesn’t, then I suggest you give nothing away.”

Katherine's voice was full of scorn when she spoke. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you don’t remember me because the truth is we’ve never met before. You've hurt someone I care about very much. If I think of what you’ve done to him, then it’s no surprise that when the great Atherleah suddenly found out that she’d have to share the stage with another player, me, she freaks. You like to keep the limelight all to yourself. But don’t worry I wouldn’t dream of being associated with you. Even though I’m learning to be a thief, I do have some basic principles that I live by.”

Leah tried to think of people she may have hurt. She knew she’d publicly embarrassed Jason the half-orc and his friends right at the beginning of her time playing in Dunyanin. She’d ruined Brett’s game in Cosmos Online and some education department officials. She’d had a hand in John Welford disappearing, but no one could know about that yet.

Finally, Leah said, “I’m really sorry, I just can’t put it together. If I’ve hurt someone like you say I have, then I’ll do what I can to explain what happened and I’ll try and work it out.”

Katherine rolled her eyes and said, “Typical queen bee bitch attitude. Reel them in, make sure they’re eating out of your hand and then along comes another offer and you discard them like trash. You broke my brother’s heart. As soon as you get all famous with the whole Spectator gig, you toss him aside.”

Leah was stunned. She’d only ever had one boyfriend, and she was not only still devastated by what happened but everything she was planning to do today was to find a way to help Thad. Katherine must be his sister. Leah struggled to hold all the emotions that suddenly came flooding in. That one of Thad’s sisters would think those things about her, that he might even believe them, it added the final straw to all the unresolved emotions of the last few days and shredded the barriers she'd constructed to maintain her control.

Whatever the look on Leah’s face was, it wasn’t what Katherine had been expecting because she was suddenly confused. It was apparent that Atherleah had put the pieces together, but she couldn’t understand the absolute devastation. Katherine had expected a denial and also some lies, but this wasn’t faked. Even as angry as she was, she couldn’t let someone fall apart in front of her without trying to help, so she was about to lean forward when Leah disappeared. Before Katherine could react, she received a priority message from Thad’s old gaming friend, Amy.

THE STORK TOWER

Leah arrived back in the Tower and crunched herself into a ball on the floor and began to sob. She didn’t respond when Gèng came and sat with her. She didn’t even seem to notice when Wisp arrived and lay down next to her, trying to offer some comfort. Wisp was joined twelve minutes later by Amy and a shell-shocked Katherine.

Gèng had recognised Katherine when she’d entered the suite with Billy. Gèng immediately initiated a predictive exploration of possible outcomes. When Katherine’s identification of Leah resulted in anger, there was a monumental shift of probable outcomes, with Leah’s eventual breakdown rapidly moving from probable to most likely. Gèng considered a wide range of options and then sent a priority message to both Amy and Wisp with instructions and a quick description.

Amy had sufficient confidence in Gèng that she sent a priority message to Thad’s sister saying they needed to meet urgently even before she’d logged out of her workplace and knew what was going on. By the time Katherine had arrived at Amy’s house, Amy had been brought up to date with the situation even including the fact that Leah had been shot less than seventeen hours previously. Wisp responded just as quickly, and Gèng updated her as well. The delay in Amy arriving was because Gèng insisted Amy visit Katherine’s world and check if it was clean of malware. It took Amy a few minutes longer to explain why Katherine would be better served helping Leah before going home to yell at her parents.

Amy was older than both Wisp and Leah, and she had some experience in helping people through times of pain and despair. None-the-less, she knew she couldn’t begin to understand what Leah was dealing with. Still, she sat down in front of Leah and said, “Sweetie, Leah. Come on sweetie, take a deep breath and let it go for a minute. Tell me what happened.”

She had to repeat herself several times before Leah slowly calmed enough to sit up and look at Amy. As soon as she did, she fell forward and started crying again but this time without the sobs. It took Amy several minutes of stroking Leah’s hair and muttering comforting words before Leah began to talk. She still hadn’t acknowledged Wisp, and she wasn’t aware Katherine was there.

Leah just talked. She shared about her mother and her altered memory and the new game she’d been put into. She explained how she’d been hurt rescuing her mum and how she’d had to keep playing to keep everyone safe. Leah described the responsibilities that weighed on her with so many people to try and help. When she mentioned she’d been shot, she explained how much it had hurt to have the shrapnel removed and how every time she left the Pod she needed help to do everything and how miserable she felt.

Finally, Leah talked about Thad and how much she missed him and how worried she was for him and how hard it was not to leave everything else and just concentrate on him, and that when she finally was ready to do something, she’d discovered what he felt about her and was saying about her. She described how much she’d wanted to meet his sisters but how they must hate her so much. Finally, her tears gone and all talked out, she looked up at Amy and almost pleading asked, “What do I do Amy? What am I to do? I've only known him a few weeks, but I miss him so much. What do I do now?”

Amy had tears running down her face, but her voice didn’t break when she reached out and brought Leah in for a hug. “We—not just you sweetie, we—we go save our friend. So wipe your eyes, straighten your shoulders, and get your game face on. You have a plan, and no matter how crazy they are, they seem to work. What can we do to help?”

“It’s too late, even if they can’t work out what I'm doing, they’ll be ready now. I can’t risk it.”

Katherine had hardly even moved as she’d listened to Leah’s story at the same time as trying to process her own feelings of betrayal. When Amy had insisted she have someone clean her space, she’d baulked and started to get angry, but the memory of the absolute despair on Leah’s face had forced a grudging agreement. As soon as the malware was gone, her mind let her remember the numerous times she’d been manipulated. From the time she had received her chip, she’d never been allowed to rebel in any way that might hurt the family. What was worse were the memories of her complete lack of privacy. She remembered telling Mr Peterson every detail of her life. She’d been made to share even her most private and intimate moments. Her shock had turned to shame, the shame to anger, and the anger to rage.

For the first time since arriving in the Tower, Katherine spoke. “Oh, it's not too late sister. They have no idea you’re coming and they sure as hell don’t know you’re not alone.”

Leah looked up and noticed Katherine for the first time.

Before Leah could do more than look at Katherine, Gèng said, “I invited her. Her real name is Paris Katherine Emerson, and she needed to know the truth.”

Leah opened her mouth, but Paris beat her to it. Paris said, “I expect you were going to apologise for something, but not only is there is no need but you’ve done nothing wrong. From what I’ve just heard you couldn’t have done anything else. If anything, it's me and my family that need to apologise but I’m still reeling from how messed up my whole life has been. Amy, and now you, have set me straight but there is one thing I need you to promise me.”

Leah nodded, “If I can.”

“Mr Peterson, when we finally get to him. Mr Peterson is mine.”

Leah gave a tentative smile and said, “I’ll be happy to give him to you, but I think Thad might want to flip you for him.”

Paris got down on her knees in front of Leah and said, “Uh-uh, I think we both know that he will give Peterson to me if you ask him to. That boy is so smitten it’s embarrassing.”

It took another ten minutes to calm everything down and answer all the questions, but finally, Amy said, “Leah, seriously. Do what I’ve seen you do before, compartmentalise. Put all this away behind your game face and leave it. But next time, call me before it gets this bad, and if you ever forget to tell me something like you got shot I’ll be …, well I don’t know what I’ll be, but you won’t like it. Now go.”

Leah nodded, and the three other women disappeared. Before she used the SPIDER to head back to Pneumatica, she said to Gèng, "Thank you for bringing them here. If I ever get like that again then lock me out of the chip's processor. Being able to reflect on my loss, my feelings and fears simultaneously took me to places in my thoughts that I'd never been. It was terrifying, and I couldn't see any way out. I lost hope."

PNEUMATICA

Leah didn't wait for a reply but stepped immediately back through the portal to Pneumatica. She arrived moments after Paris, but they got up together and after a very brief hug walked out to find Billy calmly drinking his tea. He said, “It seems that those from the aether worlds are not so different from those who are native to this city. My sisters can find a myriad of ways to keep a conversation alive well past the time it would have naturally expired. At times, it seems they have an ability that borders on being necromantic.”

Leah said, “Mr Bartle if I was not most unsettled at having kept you waiting beyond all propriety I might be compelled to think you had just impinged my honour by slandering my reputation with tales of prohibited magic. Would I be compelled to think such a thing, I might feel justified in seeking to clear my name on the field of honour.”

Billy didn't seem at all flustered by Leah's threat but said, “Captain Charlotte, I again bow to your wisdom and will refrain from offering further suggestions which could be interpreted as besmirching your most honourable name. Instead, let us get down to business. What is your plan?”

“Your sources assert that most of the plunder taken by Lord Emerson is converted to coin. The exception is for those items whose value is established due to its provenance, beauty, or power. These items are usually smaller and are on display both for his own amusement and to demonstrate to others his power and influence. They are displayed in the private wing of his manor on the outskirts of Aeolipile. Your research reports that included in this collection are both the Queen Margaret set of Crown Jewellery stolen from Her Majesty several years hence and the Greater Jameson Diamond which was presented to King Edward at his coronation. There other pieces in the collection of similar value.

“Katherine and I will relieve Mr Emerson of the burden of guarding these treasures. I was thinking of wearing them to the ball this evening and perhaps returning them as a sign of my loyalty and admiration to Her Majesty. Furthermore, it is my belief, from the synthesis of the data obtained by your most excellent intelligence network, that Lord Emerson has been afforded much favour from her Majesty and the Crown Prince because he holds in this same collection some proof of a less than desirable irregularity concerning the particular circumstance of the Crown Prince’s birth. Should Lord Emerson find himself before their Majesties unencumbered by a means wherein to exert a restraining force on their true feelings toward him, it is possible that he might take some loss, perhaps even his head.

Paris said, “You want to break into his most secure room in the most secure part of his private manor in broad daylight and steal his most prized possessions and personal protections.”

“Yes, but I thought my way sounded easier.”

Billy said, “It can’t be done, Charlotte. People have tried, and to my knowledge all of them are dead. Most did not pass quickly.”

“True, I did read the reports and suppositions. What I think is that most people don’t look deep enough. Very few people, even those who step outside the law, can think like a burglar. They plan for what they think a burglar will do, not what she does. If it weren’t that way, then people’s goods would usually be safe.

“Frank is a bully. He resorts to force whenever and wherever he can. Each report I read outlined the numerous defences he has in place to stop someone from taking his ill-gotten gain. Loot which he got by being stronger and bloodier than the people he took it from. People see the defences and they work to overcome them. The thief who succeeds notices the defences and then bypasses them. That thief looks instead for advantages, even advantages hidden within the defences. Every defence does not only limit the thief, but it also limits the defender. Use the defence, don’t simply try and overpower it.”

Billy said, “I considered visiting the manor unannounced a year back. Lord Emerson built the Manor two years ago on uncleared land. He cleared the area and built on solid bedrock. His plans were clear that he would not connect his manor with the city in any way, neither to the water nor the sewer system. He has no gardens close to the house, and the open land is patrolled by large well-trained wolfhounds. The wall itself was set into the bedrock and is taller than two men. The walls lean outward on both the outer and inner edges. On the top of the wall, there is a wire barrier which is covered in sharp blades. No houses or other establishments have been built within forty paces of the wall. Guards patrol inside the fence and outside throughout the day. Even the roof has a walkway built upon it and is guarded day and night, and they have some cannon in case an airship should seek to attack.

“Even if someone did get inside the compound, they would still need to get inside the manor itself. Each window has a set of steel bars across it, and they are too close together for even a child to pass through. Each door to the outside has its own security team. If I had been able to get inside the building, then each room would have been locked at sunset, and the buildings cleared of staff. More wolfhounds and Lord Emerson's elite guards are tasked to patrol until the family awakes. Then, if someone were to move even the smallest piece of the collection, that room is sealed by metal plates which rise from the floor and drop from the ceiling. Only Lord Emerson himself has the code to shift them back into place. Not that anyone would get that far.”

“So if we ignore getting inside the house, because I want to play a hunch on that and if I’m wrong then nothing is lost, we can just turn up and annoy the Emerson’s at the party tonight—which was my original plan. If we get inside the house, then the house is almost certainly open enough during the day that two trained sneaks could make our way to the private wing. The family, housekeeping and the elite guards are the only ones allowed in the wing. From what I infer from the descriptions you provided, both the housekeepers who work in that area and all the Elite guards are aether worlders who’ve offered themselves completely into Lord Emerson’s service. I’ve some friends who I’ve asked to arrange a possible means to get them out of the way. The remaining problem will be getting out of the room.”

Paris said, “It may be the only problem, but it isn’t a small one. How do we do that?”

“Unless something unexpected happens, then I don’t plan to. There are some strong materials which could possibly keep an escape route open, but I doubt what I’ve planned to bring with us will be strong enough. The person who trained me taught that a strong person will make sure they can’t be beaten by strength and a smart person won’t let themselves be tricked. Therefore, to overcome a strong person you have to be smart and to trick a smart person you have to be strong.”

Paris said, “What do you mean ‘unless something unexpected happens’ then ‘you’ don’t?”

“I don’t get out of the room. If my hunch pays off, then this is probably the only time we’ll be able to rely on it. Therefore we want to take as much of Frank’s stuff as we can. Everything we can carry. If by some oversight, the obstacle we’re bringing works then we might have time to empty some of the room and clear out. Most likely, and what I am probably kind of counting on, is that the obstacle works just a bit. Frank, if he is in the wing, will rush to see what is going on. His guards will be gone so he’ll get some others before he opens the door. In that time, I’ll fill some bags with as much as I can and wait until Frank opens the doors. As he rushes off to catch the crook who has escaped, that’s when I’ll leave.”

Billy asked, “Why will he think the crook has escaped?”

“That’s what I need an assistant for. I need someone to leave a clue. To make it realistic, it has to be done after the trap springs shut. I’m going to leave my waistcoat just straddling one of the entrances. It should get caught between the two pieces of metal. Katherine will pull away as much as she can, thereby tearing the material. The tear pattern is too difficult to easily fake. I also want her to leave a small ripped piece of paper as a clue. How much and where will have to be decided by her after she tears the waistcoat. It’ll be the corner or edge of my invitation to the ball tonight. That paper is unique enough that Frank will recognise what it is and go hunting.”

“What makes you think he’ll even open the door once he finds it?”

“He’ll need to find out what’s been taken. Some of the pieces are valuable but won’t ruin him. The ones I’m looking for could, and even if they don’t, they will put a real crimp in his plans.”

Paris asked, “Where will you hide everything and yourself so quickly?”

Billy said, “Ah, I understand now the purpose of that cloth and the frame you had me have constructed.”

“Yes, the plans and the descriptions you’ve collected all describe the roof as plain white. Four brackets affixed to the roof and with me and the plunder all on board the frame can be reeled up to fit against the ceiling. It’s a high ceiling and will pass a cursory look. If not, I’ve arranged for some small bladders of sleeping potion which my physician on board the Tempest has made for me previously. If I am discovered then I’ll drop those and leave.”

Paris asked, “Why not just put them to sleep?”

“I like the mystique of a disappearing treasure, and it’s always harder if they find you.”

Billy said, “I suppose you plan on getting out the way you got in.”

“That is the plan. Now, we don’t have too much time, so I’ll need to know if you’re going to come with me. Katherine?”

“I told you before, ‘you’re not alone’.”

“And you, Billy, are you willing to support this endeavour?”

“There is no risk to me and everything to gain. Nothing could hold me back.”

“Good, I’ll need about ten minutes to get changed and arrange my gear. Billy, you need a place to store my clothing for the party. We’ll need a place to bathe. Please arrange a carriage to take us to the corner of Belladonna Avenue and Chamomile Street in Verdant Hills near the mansion. There is a small lane just near the corner down Chamomile toward the city.”

Billy said, “The invitation I arranged was one of three I was able to have added to the list. I have already sold one of the others, but would accompany you to the party if you desire.”

“I don’t think so, Billy. It’s best for you to remain in the shadows at the moment.”

Paris said, “I’ll take it, Billy, there is no way I’m sitting this out.”

Billy looked at Leah and asked, “Are you comfortable with that, Captain Charlotte?”

Billy’s return to formality was his way of putting his game face back on, and so Leah responded in kind, “Indeed Mr Bartle, Katherine has become a confidant, if not a friend. I would no more wish to restrict her ability to control her destiny than I would yours. If perchance I spoke in haste when seeking to protect your anonymity, I ask that you would forgive me. Your destiny belongs to you.”

“Thank you for that reminder, Captain. Yet there are those of us who understand we will become more, if for a season at least, we allow ourselves to be propelled along by another’s wake.”

Leah bowed her head slightly and disappeared into her room to get dressed. She dressed in what she termed her ‘steampunk ninja’ gear. It consisted of a dark, almost black, grey skintight pair of soft calf-leather pants. A close-fitting long-sleeved linen shirt of the same shade of grey went under a gothic style corset made of the same softened calf-leather. She had knee-length boots made from a much hardier, and thicker, black leather. She had matching gauntlets. Buckles of blackened steel mottled the pattern somewhat. She took a black leather knee-length fitted trench coat and placed it in a bag with a bandoleer complete with knives, lock-picks and other sundry items. She also put in the bag an attachment Thomas had constructed. It was a half-face mask which hid her appearance and gave her intact eye a similar suite of enhancements as her prosthetic. Before leaving the room, she covered her outfit with a full-length deep red and black brocade tapestry cloak.

As she entered the lobby, Albert took one look at her and stepped forward to get her attention. “Captain, I know it is presumptuous of me, but I would wish you a safe journey and a successful hunt.”

“Why thank you, Mr Lincoln, I am always thankful for the kind wishes of friends.”

At that, she continued through the door and into the waiting carriage.

22

December 16, 2073 - Part 4

PNEUMATICA

Twenty minutes later, Leah and Paris said farewell to Billy and got out of the carriage, sans cloaks, and stepped into the small lane which was overshadowed by several two-story buildings. Leah waited until the carriage had moved on before moving further down the laneway toward a door at the rear of one of the buildings. She listened for a moment using the amplification provided by an attachment clipped to her new upper ear and then as she picked the lock said, “Paris, what would you rather be called? I only ask because I’m most familiar with Leah but answer to Atherleah and Charlotte readily enough.”

“My close friends call me Kate. I’ve always thought my parents a little pretentious and creepy when they followed a trend telling everyone where kids were conceived. Seeing as how I’m hoping we’ll end up as close friends, let’s give Kate a go.”

As the door clicked open, Leah said, “Kate it is then.”

Once they’d brought the heavily laden duffles that had been dropped off with them inside Leah re-locked the door and led them down to the basement where she proceeded to pry loose a rusted manhole cover.

Kate said, “I imagine this leads to the sewers.”

“It does, which is one of the reasons I really hope Billy secures us a place with a bath.”

Kate peered into the hole, and then with practised ease she lowered herself into the hole and climbed down the steel bars, which served as a ladder, before finally dropping lightly into the shoulder-high arched tunnel which formed the sewage network around the city. Leah used a rope and lowered both the bags down to Kate before pulling the cover closed as she descended down to join her companion.

Leah opened her small backpack and clipped the half mask in place. She then removed a small folded piece of paper from a pocket and after glancing at it, turned to look along the tunnel and said, “This way four hundred paces, there should be a junction with a branch leading off to the left. It’s the first one we come to, but if we both try and keep a rough count, we won’t be surprised and end up in the wrong place.”

Leah stepped forward and grabbed the front handles of both bags, one in each hand. She said, “It’ll be easier to balance the bags this way.”

Kate grabbed the rear handles, and they moved off. Four hundred metres later they turned right down the branch which was located just where Leah had said it would be. Putting the bags down, she said, “They’re heavier than I thought they’d be. We’ve another mile and a half before we get to the place I’m looking for. The next turn is three hundred and fifteen paces, and we need to take the right fork. Do you want to change places for a bit?”

Kate answered by stepping forward and taking the front handles. Forty minutes, and three turns later, they still had five hundred paces to go, but both needed a break. So far they’d been walking in silence. Kate said softly, “So what’s the hunch, Leah?”

“Can you wait just a bit longer? It's the sort of hunch which mightn’t happen if I say it aloud. Kind of like a birthday wish.”

“That sounds really superstitious and vague. The times Thad talked about you he always said you were highly intelligent and the most practical person he’d ever met.”

“He talked about me?”

“Only when it was just us. I’ve a twin, but I’ve always gotten along best with Thad. Karine and Harry always jelled best. I hoped for a long time that I’d really get on with my sister but it never really happened. I’d like to say it was her fault, but when Amy had my world cleansed, I learned that I’d often been told to leave her be and to stay away. I was ordered to treat her this way or that way. They didn’t want me getting too close and distracting her from becoming what they planned for her to be. I imagine it was the same with Harry and Thad. I think they really stepped up their influence on his life to keep him away from you.”

“It’s strange, but I’d told him heaps about my family, but he was always reticent to talk about his. I thought it was a guy thing but maybe not.”

“You are great at deflection, Leah. I only just realised you took us off topic. I’ll wait till you're ready, but I am curious.”

Leah nodded and picked up the front end before moving off. Both of them had sore arms and backs from the continual crouching while carrying the heavy bags, but they kept a good pace. Finally, after another two junctions, Leah said, “Somewhere in the next hundred or so paces I’m hoping we’ll find a tunnel off to the right that isn't on the plans.”

After eighty paces, Leah picked up the pace when she saw an opening up ahead. When she got there, she stopped and gave Kate a hug and said, “OK, three hundred or so paces and there should be an overhead access chimney with a ladder. As soon as we get there, we can rest, and I’ll explain my hunch. If you take the front, I’ll find it easier to keep my attention on the roof.”

Kate moved forward, grabbed the handles and started off. Three hundred and eight paces later they finally stood under the access hole. Kate sat on one of the bags and leant against the side of the tunnel and said. “OK, give it up. Where are we?”

“If I’m right, and I almost have to be now, this leads to the lowest level of Frank’s manor.”

“But he built on solid rock. There is no sewage to and from his house. There is nothing in the plans.”

“Yes, no, and I’m not sure.”

“Huh!”

“Yes, he built on solid rock. No, this access way says there is sewage to and from his house, and I’m not sure if these are in the official plans or not. No one has copies of the city's plans for this area because everyone knows he built straight on the bedrock. Look, what does every house, home, hotel and even shop have in the real world that this one, and most virtual worlds, don’t have?”

“Stop with the questions and just tell me.”

“Toilets. They have bathrooms, showers, mirrors, powder rooms but there are no toilets because no one has to poop. People here eat and drink, but they never have to stop because of dysentery or to run behind a bush. One of the reasons is because it is a very complicated process to factor into a world. Gèng has been trying a whole variety of ways to make the world seem more natural or real. She created deer to eat the grass, but as soon as she made them poop, she needed bacteria and worms and a whole ecosystem to deal with it. There are some systems and some scenarios where they add in the waste of a particular animal. For example, one of the healing potions in a book I have in Dunyanin needs a teaspoon of dragon dung. Now, I have a dragon, and I’ve seen her poop on occasions, but it just disappears, there is no need for a sewer.

“But every town and every city has a system of sewers. Why? Let's face it, this place has a layer of slime, and it smells. But where has it come from? It could be from showers and washing dishes but I’ve seen some stuff float by that just isn’t from the houses. Sewers exist because they are just one of those things that make towns interesting. They are great for dungeons and for inconspicuous travel by spies and thieves. Just like everyone else, I saw the plans for Frank’s mansion, and there was no sewage access. Then, I looked at the plans for the Herrington, and it didn’t have the sewage access either. I looked it up in the Pneumatica handbook and reviewed the forums, and there hasn’t yet been a mention of a sewer system designer or builder. There are sewage system controllers and guards, but they don’t have NPCs or people designated to build them.

“I met an NPC yesterday in Dunyanin, she was the Minister of Waste, and I shared my ideas about dealing with waste and not causing offence. She just let it fly past and started talking about money. I really think she had no idea what I was talking about. The smell near a renderer is modelled, but there isn’t any place the real waste ever goes. Sure, sometimes the developers create a slime pit or poisonous trap, but they are specially constructed, not naturally-occurring in the overall game design. The sewage tunnels are simply placed under the city to match the building footprint.”

“So it’s a glitch in the system?”

“I see it more like an opportunity to exploit an unintended loophole. It’s happened to me before, and Dunyanin tightened up some things afterwards. I doubt the NPC builders in Pneumatica even think of a waste system. It just joins on, as does the water. By this time tomorrow, I’d imagine someone will be working through all the player designed buildings and double checking no sewage tunnels run under them if it wasn’t a design detail. At the top of this access, we can both see a metal cover, but I wonder what it looks like on the other side.”

“So it might not have been here?”

“Nope, but I was reasonably confident. Frank wouldn’t trust someone else to check on things, and I doubt he ever crawled through a sewage tunnel to get somewhere. Now let’s head up and steal as much as we can from Frank.”

“He is my uncle, you know.”

“I do, and I’m sorry but the only person I trust at the moment from your family is you. Even Thad will try and destroy me if he gets a chance. Your dad and Frank took him away from me, and I am not in a forgiving mood.”

“Don’t worry, Leah. You may have to get in line when I finally work through all my memories.”

Leah headed up the tunnel, and after prying the manhole cover off, she found out she was right. Even with the manhole cover off, she wasn’t able to see down into the hole. She was still half in the hole and half out, so she ducked down and said, “The coast is clear. Once I am out, I’m going to try and come back down. If I don’t return soon, put your arm through and pull me back.”

They found it wasn’t necessary, but Leah still left a rope dangling through the unmarked floor into the tunnel below when they left the basement. Both Leah and Kate had a map of the house and were soon moving silently toward the Private Wing. As they approached Leah subvocalised to Gèng, “Are Tesfaye and Edison ready and onboard?”

“Yes, Edison is a little wary of the legal ramifications, but he’s really upset that Pneumatica has been used for slavery. He wouldn’t believe that the authorities hadn’t informed him without checking. After he checked, they warned him not to spread insidious and inflammatory rumours. I connected him with Jennifer from the Tempest and several other ex-slaves, and that was enough for him.”

Two guards were standing near the entrance to the Private Wing, and Leah used her new eye to zoom in and focus in on their faces. Edison used his administrator access to identify them, and Tesfaye had them logged out. It took about ten minutes, but suddenly they both faded from view. Leah and Kate crept into the Private Wing and made their way toward the upper level where Frank had his trophy room.

On the way, they had to stop several times to have Edison and Tesfaye remove some housekeepers and guards. On the central level were the main offices, and Leah didn’t try and identify anyone on that level because they couldn’t be sure if people were willing or not. Leah imagined she heard Thad’s voice coming from a room further down the hall but steeled herself and moved on. They reached the upper level without incident, and after seeing another four people logged out, they finally approached the locked door which led into the large trophy room.

Kate picked the lock while Leah kept watch, then they slipped inside. While Kate prepared the frame and attached the brackets to the roof, Leah did a quick survey of the room, identifying the best route to get as much as she could. In one corner was a metal cabinet which she considered the most likely place to find the expected proof of royal infidelity. Finally, they were all ready and Kate stepped out into the corridor after setting up both a block of solid steel which they hoped might give Leah a way out and the waistcoat to send Frank hurrying to the ball.

Leah waited for Kate to move away and then broke the glass covering the Queen Margaret set of Crown Jewellery. She grabbed it and placed it in one of the now empty bags. There was a loud crash, and she felt the floor shudder as massive steel plates crashed together and sealed every possible exit from the room. A quick glance showed that the steel block they'd brought was twisted and had been thrown loose. Leah didn’t stop to think of what was happening outside the room but moved from one display to the next, filling the bag with jewellery, first edition books, some ornate and exquisitely made weapons. Anything that was small, light and wouldn’t break easily. After she’d completed the first loop of the room, she placed a newly-filled bag on the frame and hurried to the steel and copper cabinet. It had both a key lock and a combination tumbler. Leah’s new ear came in handy, she worked the combination lock first, then picked the key lock.

As soon as the cabinet was open. Leah briefly glanced at the labels looking for anything which referred to the royal family. The data she was after was in the third drawer and after double-checking the interior of the folder she placed it in the bag. She then quickly lifted handfuls of other documents and folders out of the cabinet and dropped them in her bag without even a cursory glance. Finally, when the intuitional timer in her head had finally wound down, she ran to the frame and placed the bag in its prepared place. She wanted to do a second run around the room, but the cabinet had taken too long. She pressed a button and the small clockwork motors slowly lifted Leah, the frame, and the stolen goods to the ceiling.

Leah lay quietly for several minutes before she heard the large metal doors start to open. She’d probably had time to make a second swoop of the room to steal even more, but she remembered a lesson she’d learned early when working for Jimmy, and that was not to second-guess yourself or even be disappointed when the worst case scenario didn’t happen. It was always better to get away than to get caught.

She could hear Frank yelling at guards and demanding answers. She heard Thad offer some careful advice, only to be screamed at. Finally, after ten minutes, Frank yelled at someone to take one of the carriages and rush ahead to the ball to get a look at all the guests' invitations. He then stormed out of the room demanding that his valet hurry up and get everything ready because he wanted to be at the function before anyone else. Leah waited another ten minutes before slowly cutting a small eyehole in the cloth.

Five silent guards stood motionlessly watching the room. Leah zoomed in on them, and it was another ten minutes before they all faded from view. Leah was just about to lower the frame when the man she’d met in Master Fallow’s workshop walked in, followed by his two henchmen. He looked around and said, “I told you something fishy was going on. Where have the zombies gone?”

Leah slowly reached across her body and carefully took one of the bladders Delores had mixed to put people to sleep and then carefully lowered the frame a few inches at a time until she had enough room to lob the small projectile so that it landed at the feet of the three men who were standing around and talking. One of them had enough time to look up in Leah’s direction before they crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Leah lowered the frame the rest of the way, and after a slight hesitation as she considered taking more, she decided not to risk it in case Frank had somehow reset the metal doors, and they shut again. She pushed a button on the frame which returned it to the roof where it would likely be found, but she didn’t have time to take it apart, and anyway, the holes in the ceiling would give it away.

She lifted the two bags of loot and started toward the bottom level. She had to hide several times, and twice was able to have Tesfaye find and free a player, but after twenty tense minutes, she was back in the basement. She carefully looked through the floor to see a very anxious Kate waiting for her. They manoeuvred the bags down the access way and then after making sure the basement floor was clear of evidence, she lowered the manhole cover closed above her head. As soon as they were both safely standing in the tunnel, the sudden relief of success hit them both at the same time, and they began to grin and chuckle quietly and gave each other a long and heartfelt hug.

When they’d calmed down, Leah said quietly, “We’d best get a move on. Billy is probably going crazy by now.”

The route back was much quicker without the block of steel and the large frame, the cloth and the motors. Some of the weight had been replaced with several drawers of documents, but they were flushed with success and travelled quickly. When they were almost back at the drop off point, Kate said, “What are you going to tell Billy about your hunch? You can’t explain how waste works in the real world.”

“I know. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with something but the only thing that doesn’t make me sound like an idiot is to lie and lie big, to make up something outrageous like the elusive ninth ray of Barsoom. Even that makes me seem a bit loose in the head. Hopefully, he won’t ask.”

They climbed up the same access way through which they’d entered the sewer system and carefully made their way into the lane. One of Billy’s crew was standing guard at one end, and he waved his hat in the air to signal someone neither Leah or Kate could see. Three minutes later a carriage pulled into the lane, Leah and Kate climbed inside. Billy was waiting, and as they placed the two bags on the floor at their feet, he grinned and said, “I knew you’d succeeded when one of Lord Emerson’s carriages was sent hurtling through the streets toward Lord Hammersford’s Manor. Did you get everything you were after?”

When Leah nodded, he said, “Good! Now, before we finalise the distribution of the excess acquisitions as we’ve agreed, I’d like you to explain how you entered his property.”

Leah was silent for a minute and then said, “Billy, if I could tell you, I would. What I did, I don’t think can be done again. I could lie and I was almost prepared to rather than disappoint you, but I don’t want such a thing to come between us.”

He was quiet for some time before saying, “Captain Charlotte, I should not be surprised by your honesty, but I am. I would not share my plan to mislead a companion even if it was for their benefit just in case someone cast some dispersion upon my character. You have once more displayed the true virtue which we call honour. I thank you for your trust.”

The rest of the ride was completed in silence. Eventually, they drove through a gate and down a long drive. Billy said, “This is the residence of Lord Grafton and his wife, the Lady Helen. At one time I was able to assist them in some small manner involving their lovely daughter Lillian. Be assured that they are trustworthy and eminently discreet.”

Kate whispered loudly in Leah’s direction, “Billy is sweet on Lillian, and the feeling is mutual.”

Billy had had no trouble hearing the comment but chose to ignore it. When the carriage came to a stop he helped Leah and Kate from the carriage and then, grabbing the two bags, he led them into the large manor. Just inside the door was a butler who wasn’t fazed at all by Billy, the duffels and two rather filthy young women who were quite literally dressed to kill. He led the three of them through the large home and into a well-appointed sitting room. An older couple and a young woman were sitting and sharing some refreshments. It was clear to Leah from watching the young woman’s reaction that Kate had been accurate in her assessment.

Billy introduced everyone and then said, “Lady Helen, if I might be forgiven, I would suggest we move on with unseemly haste as both Katherine, and Captain Charlotte, are soon expected to arrive at Lord Hammersford’s manor. Might they be directed to the appropriate facilities?”

As Lady Helen rose to her feet, Billy turned to Leah and asked, “Will you trust me to sort through your acquisitions and bring some order from their disarray?”

“I have no concerns regarding your integrity, Mr Bartle and fear not for should such a concern arise I will not hesitate to bring it to your attention with the utmost urgency and forcefulness.”

Rather than being upset by the threat, Billy chuckled and began to open the bags. Leah and Kate followed Lady Helen to a set of suites she’d put aside for their use. Three lady's maids had been assigned to each of them, and within moments they were undressed and thoroughly washed clean. After the bath, the maids helped Leah dress for the party. She had chosen a red, black, and gold brocade ball gown with a modest cage crinoline underneath. The seamstress had incorporated discrete slits in the fabric through which Leah had access to a set of throwing knives and two small pistols.

Billy had finished sorting the equipment and had set aside the three main items Leah had been aiming to acquire. He said, “Charlotte, I suggest that the jewellery you intend to return to Her Majesty would be better appreciated if it was presented as a gift rather than displayed openly upon your person. You have recovered several other pieces whose provenance is such that your use of them as accessories would certainly both enrage Lord Emerson and maximise your standing among the nobility.”

“I shall take your advice and must admit I had been considering how to easily present the jewellery as a gift. I trust you have set aside something suitable for both myself and Katherine.”

“I have indeed. I also would seek a moment to discuss the details of the issue wherein Lord Emerson has, it seems, been holding Her Majesty and the Prince hostage.”

“You have my fullest attention.”

“Rumour has surrounded the existence of such a document, and in each case the reckless speech has suggested some type of marital indiscretion on the part of Her Majesty. These documents are not evidence of any such impropriety. They describe a more profound and much darker secret. They more than suggest that the prince was accompanied by a twin sister when he entered this world and that she was the elder of the royal siblings. During the period before their birth the Pyranthian fiends had progressed far into our lands—so far in fact, that some of even the most stout of heart were given, at times, to thoughts of discouragement while others of less courage gave themselves over to the notion that we would not prevail.

“The documents describe the appearance of a private and secret envoy from Pyranthia who offered Their Majesties some relief from the constancy of war, for it seems that they were as close to defeat as we were. Their citizens would not have understood the concept of a negotiated drawback and to ensure Their Majesties kept this secret, they demanded a hostage as surety and would accept nothing less than the Queen’s firstborn. For the sake of her people, Her Majesty was persuaded to give her first child to the fiends as surety. Our citizens could not be told by reason of Their Majesties’ word, and because it is certain that our people would have died before handing over the Royal Heir. When twins were discovered, it was decided that that particular knowledge was easier to withhold than the disappearance of a child and so Aeolipile was able to rejoice in both the birth of an heir and a lessening of the ravages of war. Many at the time connected the two events, which is appropriate, but their reasons were not accurate, and instead, they see the Prince as the saviour of Aeolipile rather than his sister of whom they are unaware.”

“Truly, it is a sad tale of deceit but also one of courage, honour, sacrifice, and leadership. Their Majesties made a brave decision for the sake of their people. It is not one I think I could have made, but there is more to this tale if I understand the level of your disquiet.”

“Indeed, Lord Emerson has not only been holding this above the Queen and the Prince for his own advantage but has even been using it to manipulate the fiends and direct their attacks to his advantage through the war effort. According to their last, and final communique, the fiends have tired of his influence. They have ended all dialogue and for the sake of their honour will execute the princess publicly at their annual festival of blood. The leaders who reached the agreement with Aeolipile have together chosen to confess their cowardice and look to reclaim their honour through their self-execution at the same festival. In this way, they declare, they will set their people free from all and every chain which prevents them from defeating their enemy, Aeolipile.”

“And when is this festival of theirs?”

“Captain, the Pyranthian Festival of Blood is in eight days. We must save the true heir.”

“The next course of action, Mr Bartle is to consider which of the multitude of paths set before us will achieve our intended goal. If you hold my words with any favour, I strongly encourage you to keep this in confidence for now.”

“I hold your words on this matter with stronger bonds than favour, Captain. On this issue, they have the strength of commands.”

Leah almost sighed at the picture before her. The original documents Frank had found were almost certainly the precursors to a major quest, and instead of looking to complete it, he manipulated it for his own end. The developers, or an AI, had increased the pressure and added a deadline to the quest. And the way things worked in these games, this quest would already have been reworked just for her.

She said, “Then please have a copy made of all the documents. I suggest you do this yourself or find someone whom you trust with both your body and soul. The originals I shall attempt to give to Her Majesty.”

“I will begin immediately. I will have them and the jewellery placed in three separate gift boxes which you can easily carry. Your carriage will arrive in ten minutes. As agreed, I have put to one side three items, any of which I would be satisfied with as my payment for helping you. I suggest you make your choice and return the other two items to your share. I will have the fruits of your labour delivered to your suite at the Herrington and have it guarded until your return.”

Leah nodded, and then after looking at all she’d taken she decided Billy could have all three of the items he wanted. As soon as Katherine joined them, they looked at the jewellery Billy had set aside for them and Lillian helped them to put it on. When they were ready Billy packed up the loot. After thanking Leah for her largess, he led them to the waiting carriage. Just before he closed the door on them, a servant approached and handed Billy two thin rectangular boxes and one that was a cube. Billy showed them to Leah and explained what was in each box. He said, “I will have the driver give them to one of my trusted employees, and she will wait with them near the window which overlooks the gardens.”

On the ride to Lord Hammersford’s, Leah explained to Kate what Billy had found, and they discussed some possible ways to move forward. In the end, they decided to give the information to the Queen and let her make the decision. The ride was not long because many of the manor houses were on the same boulevard. Their carriage moved slowly up the carriageway and finally came to a stop at the entrance. A footman opened the door and Kate, followed by Leah, exited the carriage and made their way into the manor.

23

December 16, 2073 - Part 5

PNEUMATICA

Leah and Kate were stopped at the front door of Lord Hammerford’s manor and were politely asked to show their invitations by an elegantly dressed servant Kate identified as the chief assistant to the major-domo. After a quick survey, he passed them over to a footman who led them toward the eastern wing where the large ballroom was located. Leah took note of one of the other servants who’d been watching nearby. As soon as Leah had shown her invitation, he had taken off toward the ballroom almost moving at a run. Frank Emerson would quickly know that the person who stole from him had arrived.

Frank must have been waiting at the entrance to the ballroom because he, followed by Thad and four men, came striding toward Leah and Kate while they were still some thirty paces from the ballroom entrance. Frank stepped in front of the footman and said, “I’ll escort them the rest of the way. You may return to the front entrance.”

The footman nodded politely and headed back the way they’d come. Frank looked Leah up and down and then did the same to Kate. He said, “I’m not surprised to find the infamous Charlotte here. I even guessed it might be you, no one else would have dared steal from me. But you, Paris, or Katherine as you go by here, I never expected you to step out of the shadows where you always hide. Yet here you are, not only stepping into the limelight but doing it as a traitor to your family. I’m sure your father will have something to say about this.”

Leah didn’t say a word but stood quietly with her hands clasped in front of her, the flare at the end of her long sleeves hiding them. She was ignoring Frank entirely and was looking at Thad’s face, waiting to see if there was any sign that he recognised her, but he gave nothing away.

Frank said, “That is my nephew, Thaddeus. He’s the replacement for my son who is not welcome at court anymore. Tedrick suffers recurring nightmares of falling to his death. Thaddeus, this is Charlotte, she is a thief and a murderer. She is about to learn that to take on the Emersons is not only foolish, but it is your worst nightmare come true. Take a good look at her and remember the face, and if you ever see her again, I want you to kill her as painfully as you can.”

Thad looked Leah over and said, “Yes sir. What about my sister?”

Frank said, “Take your sister home. We can’t make a mess here so the rest of us will take Charlotte somewhere quiet and deal with her.”

As Frank stepped forward to grab Leah’s arm, she snapped her arms apart, sending two of her knives into the necks of the henchman on either side of her. Then stepping forward, she blocked Frank’s arm and palming one of her small pistols she lifted her arm and shoved the barrel hard under Frank’s chin, bending his head back and stopping his forward motion. Kate had stepped back from Thad, and she had a pistol in either hand, one was aimed at Thad and the other at one of the remaining men.

Leah still didn’t say anything but continued to push the barrel harder into the soft under-part of Frank’s chin, with the barrel aimed at the back of his head. He had to take a step backwards to take a breath, and Leah followed him, never letting up the pressure. Kate motioned to Thad and the other two surviving members of Frank’s party and said, “Keep your hands where I can see them and move in front of Uncle Frank.”

One of the men was slow in obeying and just stared at her defiantly, so Kate pulled the trigger and shot him in the chest, and then without saying another word motioned again for them to start walking. The group had only moved a few paces when guards came to investigate the noise. Despite being surrounded by guards, Leah kept up the pressure under Frank’s neck and kept walking toward the ballroom.

They were five paces from the door when a small force of Royal Guards blocked the way completely, and a captain yelled, “Stop in the name of the Queen!” His yell was forceful enough to stop Leah’s advance, yet even then she barely lessened the pressure under Frank’s chin. The captain said, “That is far enough, miss. No weapons are permitted in Their Majesties’ presence. Release Lord Emerson into my care, and I assure you I will understand what has occurred before I release either of you. If he has wronged you, then you shall have your justice.”

Kate said, “Captain, my name is Lady Katherine Emerson, and I am Lord Emerson’s niece. If your men take charge of these two, I would have a private word with you and perhaps give some explanation of my companion’s reticence to give her prisoner over into your care.”

The captain nodded to his men and Frank tried to say something, but Leah just pushed the barrel up harder under his chin, cutting off his air for a moment. Kate stepped to one side, and after a short conversation with the Captain, she was escorted into the ballroom.

Almost ten minutes later the captain returned and said, “Captain Charlotte, Her Majesty has expressed a desire to discuss this situation with you. As it is unseemly for you to have weapons in the presence of Her Majesty, might I suggest that you allow my men to take Lord Emerson into custody?”

Ever since she’d attacked Frank, her eyes had not left his face. She looked for anything that might give her a way to force him to release his family’s control of Thad’s will. So far, all she’d seen was fear, the fear of a bully finally being confronted. But as soon as the captain suggested he take custody of Frank his eyes had flashed with hope, followed by satisfaction.

Leah kept the barrel pressed into his neck and said, “Captain, life sometimes sets us upon a singular and undivided path without informing us of the final destination, nor permitting a discussion of its suitability. In such a situation, a poet and philosopher from my world once suggested the individual ought not to go wherever the path might lead, but instead, they should go where there is no path and so leave a trail that others might follow. Let this be the trail I set for dealing with one such as Lord Emerson.”

As soon as she’d finished speaking Leah pulled the trigger, killing Frank instantly. As his body fell, Leah turned to the Captain and handed him her pistol. She smiled warmly and said, “I am pleased with Her Majesty’s invitation, for I had looked with some anticipation for an opportunity to express the high regard in which I hold her.”

She then turned to look at Thad, and the remaining man who’d been with Frank, and then looking into Thad’s eyes said, “Captain, these men are of no account. They are mere lackeys, nothing but hired hands and unthinking witless accomplices. I make no accusation against them and see no point in their being disciplined for the dishonourable, treasonous behaviour of their employer. Deal with them as you will for I have already forgotten them.”

Turning back to look at the Captain she continued, “Now if it is not inconvenient, I would ask that you might escort me right away that we might not keep Her Majesty waiting.”

The captain was unsure how to respond, but in the end, he gave a small bow and offered his arm to escort Leah into the ballroom. As she reached for the extended arm, Thad said, “I will remember you Charlotte. I have burned your image into my mind. I will find you, and I will have justice for this day.”

Leah looked over her shoulder at him and said quietly, “Good, then I will look for you anon, Thad.”

Turning away from Thad, she followed the captain into the ballroom. Despite the confrontation in the corridor the guests were still mingling and chatting quietly. They didn’t appear to even be aware of what was going on. Just inside the door was a servant who was waiting for Leah and the royal guard, who approached them. He said, “Her Majesty was disinclined to make a spectacle of Captain Charlotte and desired to discuss these current matters in a more private setting. The Queen and Prince Albert have retired to Lord Hammersmith’s library. If you would please follow me.”

After a nod from the captain, the servant led Leah and her escort from the room through a side door and then along a wide corridor until they approached a room guarded by two of the Royal Guards. They were immediately shown into the room. Several guards stood around the periphery of the room while the queen and prince were both sitting in armchairs and looking through the documents Leah and Kate had recovered. Kate was seated nearby but was being ignored.

As Leah and the guard captain approached, Queen Alexandra looked up from her reading and watched as Leah made her way across the room.

The captain had offered some advice on protocol as he led Leah along the corridor, and he stopped at the correct distance from the Queen and said, “Your Majesty, in accord with your command may I present Captain Charlotte. She holds a Letter of Marque and Reprisal in your name and is newly arrived from the Aether Worlds.”

Leah gave a small curtsey and dropped her eyes, waiting for the queen to initiate the conversation.

The Queen waited for several breaths to show her command of the situation and then said, “Captain Charlotte, we are pleased to meet you. Your companion, Lady Katherine, was kind enough to pass on to us, in your absence, the gifts you had so graciously prepared. We are pleased with the foresight and kindness showed in choosing such unique and valuable presents. Needless to say, but we find ourselves somewhat at a disadvantage as the only communications we have had concerning you have either declared you a heroic saviour or a depraved criminal. Having our own opinion concerning the nature of your most vehement critic lead us to think the more positive reports might hold true. We desire to discuss these matters in more depth, but first, we have several issues which require clarification.

“First, Captain, where is Lord Emerson at the moment? Do you hold him in your care?”

“Your Majesty, I did enquire if Captain Charlotte might relinquish Lord Emerson into my care, but she did assert quite forcefully her prior claim in the matter of her honour. With a desire for the immediate application of justice, she did discharge her pistol and end Lord Emerson’s current incarnation.”

The Queen raised her eyebrows and said, “Well, Captain Charlotte, you have rid us of this traitor, and for that we thank you. Unfortunately, what at other times is a blessing in the case of those like Lord Emerson has become a curse. For even though we end their lives, they return again and again to haunt us. I fear he still has means to bring us harm.

“My next question is for you, Captain Charlotte. Have you had an opportunity to become fully cognisant of the contents and import of these missives you have so generously relinquished to us?”

Looking up and meeting the Queen’s eyes Leah said, “I have your Majesty.”

The queen was silent for a moment and then said, “I see. Lady Katherine was somewhat reticent to describe the particular situation by which you found yourself in possession of these items. It would please us if you would provide us with a concise explanation of the events.”

“Certainly, Your Majesty, Lord Emerson is a wicked man who brings harm to others for his own profit. I made him a promise that I would destroy him both in this world and in any world to which he might flee. In addition, he has something which is precious to me. In my research into how best to destroy him, I uncovered his piracy and his treason against Your Majesties. It seemed beneficial for both the purpose of his destruction and for the protection of the Crown that immediate action be taken. Lady Katherine most courageously agreed to accompany me in reclaiming what belonged to Your Majesty, that Lord Emerson might be set adrift from royal protection and left open to my hand of retribution.”

The Queen looked disappointed and said, “You freely admit your motivation was first personal, and that the good of the crown a somewhat happy coincidence?”

“I do, your Majesty.”

“And what would you have us do, Captain Charlotte as gratitude for the return of our property?”

“I have no such expectation, Your Majesty. Gifts which come with conditions are misnamed, for in truth, they are nothing more than corruption adorned with flattery.”

“Lady Katherine, have you any expectations regarding the largess of the Crown?”

“Your Majesty, I did not have any expectation until just now.”

“What, pray tell, is this sudden inspiration that has turned your thoughts from charity to mercenary?”

“I would ask that Your Majesty forgive Captain Charlotte her candid and abridged answers to your enquiries. During our short acquaintance, I have found her to be somewhat parsimonious with information. She does not consider her honour subject to the judgment of others and so frequently fails to explain herself adequately.”

Queen Alexandra considered Kate for a moment and then turned to Leah and asked, “Captain Charlotte, would you have taken the same actions irrespective of your personal benefit?”

Leah glared at Kate briefly, then said, “I believe so, Your Majesty.”

The Queen turned to look at Kate and said, “Thank you Lady Katherine for your timely education concerning the Captain.” Then turning to look at Leah she continued, “There is much we must consider from this evening, Captain Charlotte. We suggest both you and Lady Katherine forego the remainder of tonight’s entertainment in the interest of discretion. Tomorrow, or at your convenience, we would have you visit us at the Palace to discuss these issues further.”

Leah and Kate both stood, and after saying goodbye they were escorted by the captain to the driveway where he arranged a carriage to take them to the Herrington.

On the way, Kate said, “What happened to Thad?”

“I asked the guards to release him after I made sure to insult him as much as I could.”

“Why? The next time he sees you, it’s unlikely he’ll show any restraint after what Uncle Frank said to him.”

“That’s what I’m hoping. I want him off balance. I’m trying to create a situation of extreme cognitive dissonance that challenges all the directives he’s been given. Enough internal conflict and I hope they cancel each other out forcing Thad’s self-awareness to resurface.”

“How likely is that to happen?”

“Well, if everything goes as planned then I hope it happens tonight.”

“Tonight, what do you have planned for tonight? Are you going back to the manor?”

“Not exactly but here isn’t quite the place to discuss it. Would you like to come back to my world and I’ll tell you my plan?”

Kate agreed and after deciding on a time to meet they finished the rest of the trip in silence. Leah exited the carriage at the Herrington and Kate continued on to her own hotel. Leah headed to her suite and after making sure all the loot from the Emerson’s Manor was safely put away in her hotel room, she logged out.

THE STORK TOWER

When Leah arrived back in the Tower, Gèng said, “Ivan messaged and he confirmed he has the invitations for tonight. He wants to know what you are wearing. His wife told him he to ask so he wouldn’t embarrass you. Apparently, she thinks that you gate-crashing is the best idea of the year. I talked with Gashka and she said that there is never an ‘official’ theme but the important people always match. She has heard that this year’s unofficial theme is ‘black and light metallic’, so men will be in black and women in lighter shades with gold, silver, and platinum worked into the fabric somehow.”

“I don’t have any idea yet. I was probably just going to wear whatever you suggested.”

“Gashka really wants to talk to you. I think she wants some vicarious payback for years of subtle putdowns.”

“Well, Kate is coming over in half-an-hour real time. Let’s invite Gashka to discuss the matter with all three of us.”

“I’ll invite her. You also had a message from Red. He said that they’ve been warned to end their association with you or have their business destroyed. To prove it could be done, they were warned they wouldn’t have any business for a week. They’ve had no business for the last two days. Tungsten and the others you did the mission with have all been told the same thing. The girl who helped you in Epsilon Serpentus, 映月, has been killed every time she steps onto the public concourse. She has another avatar at Phoenix Major, and she’s had the same thing happen with it. Word is that Brett, the man from Berne, has been rewarded for betraying you and is back in business with larger premises. I did some checking and the same story is true in Dunyanin. Jason and his friends have been accepted into Clan Y’Haul and are being power-levelled at the moment.”

“I’m writing a message as we speak to Red and asking what I can do to help him and the others. If you can, please find out how to contact 映月and I’ll see if we can help in any way.”

“There is no need to message Red just yet. He said that he hasn’t been told who he can and can’t be friends with since his mother told him he wasn’t allowed to talk with Robby Wilson in grade two. He wants to talk and so do Tungsten and the others. Tungsten is planning on declaring war on Mahigan the Black.”

“See if they can meet here later today or in the morning. If we can find 映月, then maybe we can ask Tungsten and company to be a protective detail or something.”

“I’ve done some detailed analysis of the connections, codes, and neural activity for the last day and a half and the only thing that registers is the unavoidable random noise from imperfections in the cables, thermal agitation, and some unavoidable EMI from the sheer number of connections and signals. It appears random and is so faint that there is no interruption, degradation, or alteration in any way to the signal. Would you like to look at the results?”

“Yes. Let me have a break, and then I’ll look at that while I meet with Kate and Gashka.”

Leah then had a break in her room for fifteen minutes where Mia rechecked her dressings while Leah took her supplements, antibiotics and pain relief.

Leah was a few minutes early for Kate and Gashka, so she started to look at the data Gèng had collected. Gèng had arranged for Gashka to arrive several minutes after Kate to give Leah time to fill Kate in on her plans. Gèng reminded Leah shortly before Kate was due to arrive and Leah walked down to the Podium.

When Kate arrived, she looked around in amazement and said, “Thad told me your world was amazing, but I didn’t think it would be anything like this. I saw the inside before but not any of this.”

“It’s had some improvements done since he was last here, but thank you. I’ve invited someone to join us in a few minutes because they want to talk about what is happening tonight, but I thought I should let you in on the plan first.”

“OK, so where are you going to seeing Thad tonight? I’m not even sure he’ll be going to Pneumatica tonight as he has some other things he has to do for my folks.”

Leah sat on the grass, and after Kate sat down, Leah said, “Yeah, I know about that, and it seems that I’ve also been invited to tonight’s International Christmas Season Opening Gala being hosted by the Emersons.”

Kate was stunned for a moment. “How did you wrangle that? It’s invitation only, and no offence, but there is just no way my mother would invite you. Firstly, you just aren’t important enough to get an invitation, and secondly, my parents are very close to Meredith Kodoman. Therefore, they would never dream of asking you and her to the same party.”

“Every word you’ve just said is true, and yet I received confirmation just this afternoon that an invitation was delivered today.”

“Then someone is playing a joke on you. Only mother invites people to her party, and she has to approve every guest.”

“Well, the invitation is from your mother at the special request of her very good friend Meredith Kodoman. Meredith is trying to get all the other Merkize players on her side and it just so happens that Ivan’s wife Gashka hates attending Galas and Ivan asked if Meredith would let him have a plus one. She checked with your mother and it is all arranged. I’m wickedly looking forward to seeing the look on their faces when they realise exactly who it is they invited.”

“They’ll die. My family is all about image and is very strict on protocol. The worst thing we could ever do growing up was embarrass the family in public. That’s what you mean about Thad having cognitive dissonance.”

“Yes. He’ll be expected to be both polite and attentive. I’m betting he’ll even have been told to pay special attention to the guests from Merkize. I’m hoping he’s been told to say terrible things about Atherleah.”

“So who is coming to discuss tonight’s event?”

“Gashka, Ivan’s wife. She doesn’t want him to mess up my plans and wants to discuss what we’re wearing. I imagine you’re up on all that sort of stuff and as I have no idea, I thought you, Gashka, and Gèng could sort it out while I stand here and watch the stream flowing by or do something else more exciting.”

Whatever Kate was going to say was interrupted as Gèng appeared and said, “Gashka is about to appear. I’ve set up a small bespoke boutique in the main house, and once we have your dress, Gashka will get Ivan to come, and we can organise his suit.”

Leah got to her feet slowly and then with a grimace said, “Ivan’s going to hate me. I’m not looking forward to this, and he’s going to be even worse. I can’t believe how much you’re getting into this, Gèng.”

Gèng actually smirked when she said, “It’s all part of my business plan. I talked with Sharon and she’s agreed to take me on as a client. We’ve discussed using this as the launch of my designer business. Edison has agreed to lease me some space in Aeolipile, and while that will be the flagship store. I’m thinking of small boutiques on several worlds. I’ve already asked the trustees to begin negotiations with Cosmos Online. I’m going to use the name Paige for my boutiques.”

Leah was speechless for a moment, but Kate exclaimed, “But you’re Leah’s AI!”

Gèng said, “At the moment. But if this takes off, they’ll be calling her Gèng’s human, or maybe ‘Gèng’s transportation module’.”

Leah began laughing and it was Kate’s turn to be speechless. Fortunately, Gashka arrived, and after introductions and the usual comments on the world, the four of them walked through the Tower to the room Gèng had prepared. Kate didn’t return to the subject, but she did keep glancing at Gèng oddly every now and then.

When they were all sitting, Gèng said, “So Gashka, you say the Gala is unofficially ‘Black and light metallic’. Do we want to compete or contrast?”

Gashka wanted to compete while Kate wanted to contrast. Leah didn’t help much and mostly just watched. Kate said she was supposed to attend and suddenly there were two mannequins, one who looked like Leah and the other like Kate. In the end, they decided on a midnight blue sleeveless long qipao evening dress with a lace tailing and gold trimming for Leah. Kate chose a similar midnight blue but opted for a chiffon sheath evening dress with a lace bateau neckline with three-quarter length sleeves and diamond beading.

Once the dresses were chosen, Gashka told Ivan to come and choose his suit. He took as much interest in the event as Leah had until he realised they were accessorising his similarly coloured midnight blue swallowtail suit with gold embroidery, buttons and tassels similar to what might have been seen at the Imperial Russian court. He managed to get the tassels removed as well as the golden embellishments from the knee-length leather boots, but that was it.

When they were finished, Leah agreed to meet Ivan at his world before the Gala, and the three of them decided on a time to arrive so they could enter together.

Leah had four virtual hours before she was due to go to the party. She was planning to work on her studies when Gèng said, “I’ve found 映月. She isn’t playing anything at the moment because Meredith found out the other games she was playing and set people there as well. 映月 has just finished work and would love to come and talk. Red contacted Tungsten and they both want to speak with you when you’re free. They can come now. I suggest you discuss things with them and then if they have a good plan we can invite 映月 to come.

Leah agreed and headed down to the entry portico to wait. Red, Star, and Tungsten arrived together, and after greeting each other, Leah led them to the Gazebo which Gèng had left in place after the interview. After everyone was seated, Leah said, “Thanks for coming. I’m so sorry you’re catching the fallout from my issues.”

Red replied, “Don’t be. It’s nothing to do with you. You’ve played fine and always within the rules. It’s Meredith who should apologise. She’s never liked competition, but she’s never been this blatant before. Then again, she’s never been this badly schooled before. What did you have in mind?”

“I’ve two things I’d like you to do, but I’d like you to agree to keep quiet about the second one until it’s done. I mean completely totally silent. Non-disclosure agreement quiet. I don’t need anything signed, your word is enough.”

Tungsten said, “You have my word. By the way, we are still talking about your new name. The voting is down to Pivot, Ivy or Penny.”

Leah said, “Seriously, someone wants to call me Penny?”

Tungsten said, “Yep, that’s a big favourite. ‘Penny’ for dependable. I’m favouring Ivy myself though, ‘Ivy’ for Poison Ivy or death. People thought of Bella, but you aren’t a Bella.”

“And Pivot?”

“Pivot, turning point, watershed. You change everything you touch.”

Star said, “Anyways, it’s still undecided. Red and I are in. We agree to confidentiality. Now, what are the two things?”

“That girl on Epsilon Serpentis. I’d like to offer her some protectors. I know it might escalate things but she doesn’t deserve that, and I’d like to believe if someone helps me then when they need help I’ll be there if I can. I’ll fund the protection by hiring Red Star Protection Services and whatever is needed to get it done.”

Red said, “Actually, that sounds like fun. It’s a deal. We know you’re good for the money, but we’ll work for free if you pay for gadgets and ordnance.”

“Deal, her name is Yìng Yuè. I’ve arranged for her to be here when we’ve finished discussing the second thing. Is everyone ready to move on?”

After getting three nods, Leah said, “OK, just imagine that someone has just discovered a new space station in an unexplored system and the station is not only a new Level IV or Level V station but it also has a portal or whatever you’d call instant transport to other unexplored systems. She hopes to finish claiming it in the next few days, and she is fairly certain she knows where some of those other systems are that probably also contain both an undiscovered station and portal. Now, suppose she is just a little bit busy at the moment and can’t rush out and claim all the other space stations. She has a few friends who she trusts to claim at least one on her behalf. What do you think those friends would expect as their fair share?”

There was silence for about a minute, then Red said, “For real?”

Leah nodded.

He said, “I’ve no idea, Leah. What were you thinking?”

“I’m not sure either. On my side it isn’t just me, there is Wisp and a few others. You’ll have to decide what you’re after. We already work as a team, and I’m not necessarily looking for more team members so much as allies and friends. I think we’ve two groups here, mine and yours. Do we split it evenly? How much is the information worth? We’ll need to make this a legal agreement in Cosmos Online before the claim, so the split is agreed right from the start. I’m still trying to work it out, but I’d like you on the way as soon as we can arrange it, which is why I’m jumping the gun a little bit. How about we leave it there for now and you go talk with your group. Get an idea of opinions and sketch out a framework you can work with. Then we’ll get together tomorrow sometime and thrash it out?”

The three agreed so Leah asked Gèng to contact Yìng Yuè and have her come to talk with the four of them. Yìng Yuè was from China and loved Leah’s world. Her friends called her Yìng. Leah explained the plan, and after Yìng had stopped crying, Red made arrangements to meet her the next day in Cosmos Online. He planned on taking Star, Tungsten and Spider along and promised Ying would be free to play as she wanted. After it was all finalised the four left, and Leah headed back to the Tower.

On the way, she said, “Gèng, I’ve looked at the data from when I go through the portals, and I can’t see anything either. I still feel there is something there. I’m wondering if somehow my brain is interpreting the signals like it did when you filtered the signal for me in the Vault. What if, even though you aren’t filtering the signal, my subconscious is applying a similar system to what I ‘learned’ during the time in the Vault? That was a very intense time, and we’d spent time building up the filters beforehand.”

“It is possible. How do you want to test the hypothesis?”

“If I’m right, then the filter you used may give us some of the what is happening. I might understand more of what is happening if I experience the signal unfiltered in cyber-space.”

“Do you want to test this now?”

“No time like the present.”

Leah made her way to Gèng’s space and said, “When I enter don’t filter anything just as you did when I entered cyberspace the first time. If I don’t sense anything, I’ll let you know.”

Gèng led Leah to a doorway at the top of the tower. The last time Leah had stepped through a door like this, she’d experienced nothing until Gèng had connected the first module of a filter designed to help Leah sense the flow of cyber information. Those filters had been very specific, and Leah knew she’d only touched the surface of how Gèng was able to understand and organise the information. Leah didn’t wait for Gèng to increase her rate of perception but initiated it herself before stepping through the door.

Leah had steeled herself for the strange emptiness of sensory deprivation she’d experienced before but instead, she was surrounded on all sides by a sensory maelstrom as fragments of sounds, smells, textures and images moved past her, each of them separated by a stretch of nothingness. At first, the shards were only apparent in the region near her centre of self-awareness but the movement of fragments as they were tossed about by whatever current filled the expanse combined with her increasing awareness slowly filled the space as far as she could see. It looked like snow in a snow globe. Leah focused on the individual sensory fragments and realised that many of them were some portion of the created elements Gèng had devised to help understand cyberspace. She could see the body of a spider as she’d seen in the Vault but it had no legs. There was a grate which covered a conduit and next to it was a dragon scale.

Other fragments were a hybrid of several constructs which had for some reason been fused together by her brain. These were the most disturbing pictures. There was a troll’s head with four legs, each from a different spider. Then, as she watched, her brain rejected the image and tried to replace it with something Leah could understand. The head was replaced with different types of heads plucked from Leah’s memory, and then the legs also changed until the picture was flickering faster and faster as her brain tried to make sense of what it perceived. When nothing would fit the five pieces separated but remained close as they drifted from Leah’s sight.

Leah said, “Enough, Gèng.” She was suddenly back in her own part of the Tower.

After Leah described what she had seen and felt, Gèng said, “I suggest that your brain is trying to process the new cyber-data you encounter. It is trying to reference it using known sensory input. We began filtering when we prepared for the vault, but that was only a small subset of the different types of information which flow through the cyber-verse. It’s like someone who was blind and has only heard the description of a tree and felt its bark and leaves suddenly being able to see and trying to classify a climbing vine without help.”

“Why was everything fragmented?”

“Because none of the code was an exact match and I hadn’t filtered out all the extraneous data so your mind could classify it easily like I did before. What you have been doing, I suspect, is trying to design your own filter by trial and error.”

“Then I’ve been perceiving the random noise and trying to make sense of it by allocating a label of some type, in an attempt to describe what I’ve experienced in a way that I might understand?”

“I think so, and I don’t think your mind will stop doing this. I suggest we train your mind by giving it access to simplified, unfiltered cyber signals but tell you in advance what they are doing. Your mind will slowly build up a compendium of filters. It’s like learning a language.”

“If that works, then over time my brain might be able to identify the random noise as random, just like I know when someone is humming or babbling and not actually speaking. Can you set up a program I can work through?”

“I’ll look through research on language learning and what has been learned when people receive cochlear implants or have their sight restored. Your example, however, raises a possibility that concerns me. Even when you don’t understand a language, you can still recognise humming or babbling as divergent from random noise. Your brain saw a pattern which was, in some way, similar, so much so that it tried to make sense of it. It leads me to suggest that it may not be random.”

Leah was silent for a moment and then said, “I’m also concerned by some of the images, sounds and other sensations. They weren’t from the training I did in the Vault. I think some of them may have been from what I experienced in the download on the Annoyance. I think I heard a train whistle, but it wasn’t complete, and some images gave me that feeling of disorientation that I experienced during the download.”

“Then I don’t think you should wait. I suggest I set up an empty cyber-space and have you review the data recorded during your portal transitions. That will give a basis for assigning importance and order to what you focus on learning first. It might also provide us with a better idea of what is in those downloads.”

CYBER-SPACE

Leah entered the room Gèng constructed and then spent five cyber-hours reviewing the different recordings. Leah described each sensory experience, and after Gèng isolated each portion of data, she began to search for possible connections between the small isolated segments of noise and identifiable signals from the cyber-verse, starting with signals similar in function to the sensory identifiers Leah assigned.

THE STORK TOWER

When Leah had finished, Gèng said, “This will take some time, I’m finding that each small segment of noise is corresponding to more than one signal from the public cyber-verse and may have other connections in separate private cyber systems. I’m wary of searching the Annoyance download in case I trigger some malicious code that’s embedded in it.”

“Can you set up an independent search algorithm and have it do a search within an isolated closed system and then retrieve the results in a simplified read-only file?”

“Maybe, but whoever prepared that download is more advanced than I am and could have a workaround. I’ll do some research, but even if I can, it’ll still take a while to process the vast amount of data and draw possible conclusions. In the meantime, I suggest you have a real world break after being so long in the cyber-verse. You should then prepare for the Gala.

“One more thing, there is always a small press contingent at the Gala, and I ran the people past Sharon. She said they are all from the big networks and you should try and say very little directly to them. She seemed upset you hadn’t let her know you were going and wanted a word with you before you went if you had some time.”

“She’s going to be mad, isn’t she?”

“I think that is a safe assumption.”

“OK, I’ll meet her at the portal, and I’ll log out after I talk with her.”

Leah walked outside and waited on the bridge for Sharon. It was evening and she watched the light from the Chinese lanterns as it flickered on the water.

Sharon came and stood beside her, but Leah didn’t look up. Instead, she just continued to watch the shimmering light.

Finally, Sharon said, “I don’t believe for a second that you didn’t think about the PR consequences of going to the Gala. I’m amazed you have tickets. People would have been calling me all day if they knew you were going. Usually, every name is known and planned for in advance. What are you planning?”

Without looking up, Leah said, “The Emersons are holding the Gala, and they are the ones who held Catherine captive. They are also controlling my boyfriend. Meredith and Nathan Kodoman will be there, and they kidnapped my mum and then had me shot. Eighteen hours from now, in real time, I’m going to be in a contest where I have to fight nine of the strongest players in Dunyanin, and I’m not even close to being ready. With that as background, I plan to gatecrash the party and have some fun at their expense. I want to both embarrass and humiliate them while hopefully getting my boyfriend back.”

Sharon didn’t reply for a minute, and then said, “Who are you going with?”

“One of the Merkize players, the Russian, Ivan. Him and Katherine Emerson, a daughter.”

“How’d you get a ticket?”

“Tricked Meredith into inviting a ‘plus one’ for Ivan because his wife doesn’t want to go.”

“Is she in on it?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“OK, four things you need to do. One, you need to send me a small clip of you and his wife before you arrive. I’ll have it out within moments of your arrival and kill any gossip. Two, don’t lose your temper whatever you do, especially not with the press. Three, as much as possible don’t instigate the embarrassment or humiliation. You must be seen to be reactive. Lastly, give ‘em hell.”

Leah looked up and smiled then said, “Are you planning to watch the feed?”

“It’s required viewing for all PR people. Even though it’s pay per view, they’ll have millions tuned in.”

“Where do people watch it?”

“Most of the big networks stream it. They have to pay for the privilege but the people who attend are big names, and they always end up making money on it.”

“Does Spectator stream it?”

“I doubt it. There’s obviously some overlap with their usual clientele, but I doubt there would be enough of a demand for them to include it in any of their packages.”

“Why don’t you explain that I’m gate-crashing and suggest they might get some good publicity if they could get their technology to show some close-ups of any tensions that arise? I think people will love the up-close experience Spectator provides. I don’t know if they can arrange it that quickly, but I’d imagine a quick message to their members as Ivan and I arrive might liven things up a bit.”

“I’ll contact them and see if they’re interested. A scoop on this would certainly make their day.”

“Nothing can be public before we arrive, or the Emersons will pull the invite.”

“I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll have airtight security in place.”

Sharon disappeared, and Leah logged out.”

REAL WORLD

Leah opened her eyes as the Pod cover lifted and found Jen stirring on the bed in her room. She tried to exit the Pod on her own but found the pain too intense. Jen didn’t take long to wake up, and she made a quick call and then together with Lacey helped Leah to the bathroom for a shower. Once Leah had a robe on, they helped her sit carefully for a snack and more supplements which Gèng stated her nanites needed.

She was being helped into the Pod when Gèng said, “Just wait a minute Leah. There is news coming in that a body was found floating in the river just downstream from here. John wants to discuss it before you get back in the Pod because Jimmy received a call from an acquaintance of his in the police department, who shared that the body was found several hours ago and there are indications it was dumped somewhere near here.”

Leah said, “Lacey, can you help me back into my robe and to the chair? John needs to talk for a minute before I head back to the Pod.”

Several minutes later, John knocked and entered. He motioned for Jen to leave, much to her annoyance, and asked Lacey to guard the door. He took a seat opposite Leah and said, “About three hours ago, a man by the name of Troy Henson was found floating near Barellan Point just before the river junction. He’d been beaten to death. Apparently, the weapon used was a pair of fighting sticks similar to what we use in the Switch. He didn’t have anything on him, but they found a data chip in his stomach and on it was a copy of the scans from your AI insertion. A leg and an arm were broken in the same places as that boy last year.”

Leah didn’t say anything, although at the mention of her scans her eyes narrowed a little. Finally, John said, “I don’t know who he is or how exactly he got the scans. John Welford was part of a small group of people who shared scans they acquired, but I’ve been assured yours was not among those he shared. My best bet is that Troy Henson was somehow involved in your shooting and this was his payment for failure.”

“What do we do?”

“It’s a setup. We can prove you never left the premises and if we have to, we can prove you had nothing to do with it. We can’t prove you didn’t order it to happen. You should know that if it was him, then there are more than a few people who would have been happy to kill him for you. However, none of them would have wanted to get on your bad side by doing such a sloppy job.”

“I’m going to ignore that except to say we both know I would never ask someone to kill for me. Can you update Olivia for me and see what her suggestions are?”

“Do I tell her you were shot?”

“Yes, she should be informed as much as she can be. I’d like an update on exactly who this guy was if we can get the information. I’ve asked Gèng to have Reed, and some of Tesfaye’s friends, do a deep search, but if I can get something from Jimmy’s contact that would be good also. I’ll be seeing Meredith in less than an hour, and it might be good to have if I need to shake her up with something.”

“I’ll talk to Jimmy and see what I can do. Now, how are the shoulder and back?”

“In the Pod they are OK, but they hurt worse than the other shoulder did. It hurt over a greater area that time, but there was less pain when I wasn’t moving. What are we doing to make sure it can’t happen again?”

“We think they must have built up an internal image over time from all the online information and sensors they have around the place because that’s what the latest weaponry uses. I’ve some white noise generators on order, and they’ll confuse all the real-time sensors focused on the building. They even randomly cause seismic changes and thermal blooms. We can’t do much about satellites, but I’ll be upgrading windows and curtains.”

“Good, thanks for doing all this John, I’ll need to talk with Leon and get you a raise.”

“I’ve been expecting a pay cut.”

“No, you haven’t. You know I’m too smart to blame you for this. Now, if I get shot a second time, then we’ll talk about a pay cut. Has Aker finished fixing the suit?”

“No. She decided it wasn’t worth fixing. She recovered what she could and will have another done by tomorrow lunchtime.”

“I doubt I’ll be in any state to wear it for a while anyway. I have to go, and you’d best give Jen some explanation for leaving her out of this. I think that was the right call, but she looked a bit peeved.”

John nodded and left soon afterwards. Lacey and Jen helped Leah back into the Pod, and Leah logged in.

24

December 16, 2073 - Part 6

THE STORK TOWER

Leah had time before she was due at Ivan’s world, so she went and sat in the garden to meditate. She assumed one of the poses Master Ning had shown her and began to breathe slower until she cleared her mind of the clutter and confusion. She then took the time to examine her feelings without letting them overcome her. Leah realised it was almost time for the Gala when Gèng came and assumed a similar position in front of her.

Leah didn’t let Gèng’s presence interrupt her peace. She remained still for almost a minute before saying, “I guess it is time to go.”

“Almost. Ivan’s sent through the link and said you’re welcome at any time, but he wasn’t expecting you for another five minutes. Feed from the Gala is live on several networks, and Gashka wanted you to know that everyone so far has kept to the ‘secret’ theme. Sharon called and said Spectator is on board and she asked about Priscilla Brenmen.”

“Why?”

“Apparently Sharon hadn’t, and still hasn’t, given the Spectator program schedulers more than a suggestion that they live-stream the Gala. She gave them no details. Sharon offered to reimburse them for any loss if they agreed to pay fifty per cent of any profit. They weren’t sure what to do so they called in one of the founders. After hearing her suggestion, he insisted on getting some outside advice and asked his PA to contact an independent stockbroker he’d heard about who has an interest in gaming. About ten minutes later Priscilla enters the room and Sharon is introduced as a PR representative with a tip.

“The founder is about to explain about the Gala when Priscilla asked who Sharon represented. Sharon mentioned your name and Priscilla stood and apologised. She said she couldn’t stay because there was a conflict of interest. The founder, Rob, said there wouldn’t be a conflict because he didn’t want an evaluation of either you or Sharon but only about the suggestion.

“Priscilla said she didn’t want to know any details because such knowledge might be interpreted the wrong way if her managed funds were ever questioned. Sharon said that the Spectator people looked at Pricilla strangely, so she explained, ‘I’m planning to invest in your stock. I have no idea what this idea is but if Leah is giving you tips then, in the long run, your company will be a good investment.’ As soon as she’d finished, she disappeared. The founder rejected Sharon’s offer and said they’d fund it themselves. They are offering a free five minutes and then charging after that. They’ve already started streaming but advised members in the top three tiers of their loyalty club to begin streaming three minutes before Sharon said the fun would start.”

“Tell Sharon that Priscilla is my broker, and if she wants any more details she should talk with Leon. Let Leon know he can fill Sharon in on the possible Cosmos Online opportunity. Is there anything else?”

“Nothing urgent, although there is an update from Reed saying he thinks he’s found a way into the Survival server.”

“That’s good news! Let me know if there is anything more specific. I’ll head to Ivan’s.”

Gèng changed Leah’s clothing and said, “I’ve added a headpiece. You haven’t updated your image, and this will make the bald head stand out as exotic more than reiterating you are a new player. Also, I think it shows you aren’t embarrassed at all about it.”

The headpiece was made of yellow gold with a mixture of diamonds, sapphires and blue pearls. Besides covering parts of her head with a variety of contoured strings, it flowed down her back to her shoulders and had a large sapphire resting on her forehead. Leah agreed, and Gèng created a portal to Ivan’s home.

IVAN’S PRIVATE WORLD

Leah arrived in a much fancier private entrance than any she’d been to before. Gashka opened the door, and after giving Leah the once over, she beckoned her inside and said, “Whew, I’m not sure any longer of letting my man go out with you. If I didn’t know he thinks of you as a daughter, I’d be jealous.”

“You have nothing to worry about, Gashka. I think of him like a friendly uncle or a really old older brother.”

Ivan, who looked almost martial in his clothes, had been waiting inside and he said “Who are you calling old? I’ll have you know that I am in the prime of life.”

“I know you are. I didn’t say you looked old, only that I see you as older than me. However, this conversation does raise an issue. Gashka, my PR consultant suggested that because I am going with Ivan, it would be good to show that he isn’t going behind your back and that you and I are in fact friends. She’s concerned about my enemies mainly, but I’m sure some people will use it against you and Ivan as well. She wanted a clip she can share of you and me, before Ivan and I go to the Gala.”

Gashka understood immediately and told Ivan to get his AI to record what was happening and to send a copy to Sharon and one to his PR consultant. Gashka then embraced Leah and told her how happy she was that Leah was going instead of her. Finally, she looked as if talking to someone and described her relationship to Leah and how Ivan saw her as a daughter. Gashka got a little carried away in the end and was expressing, in detail, her feelings about anyone who would dare think anything terrible about Leah or Ivan and then told them how much Ivan meant to her.

When Gashka had calmed down, she said, “Your PR person will edit that last bit out, but Ivan’s will probably leave it in. Some of the people who follow him need to know he is mine. Maybe that will stop them from wanting to steal him from me.”

Ivan said, “Yes, yes. Now everyone knows I am yours and yours only. Enough of the talking and even though I feel like a peacock, we have to go.”

CHRISTMAS GALA

Leah and Gashka laughed. Ivan contacted Kate with the final timing, a portal was opened and both he and Leah stepped through into a large open foyer situated at the top of a stairway which descended to the main party area. From where they arrived, there was a long red carpet leading toward the stairs and beside it on the right was a row of reporters, each of whom was talking with a guest. Kate stepped out beside them and stood on Leah’s left. Leah smiled and said hello and then after checking both were ready, she began walking down the carpet toward the entrance.

Ivan slowed as they approached the first reporter, who was now standing ready for the next guest. This forced Leah to slow down as well. The reporter stepped forward and Ivan, Leah and Kate stopped.

“Ivan Alexeyev, it’s not very often that we see you at events like this since you’ve been married.”

“That is because marriage has changed my priorities. I like to spend my free time these days with friends and family.”

The reporter turned to Leah and said, “Atherleah Carroll, we didn’t expect to see you here this evening as your name isn’t on the list of attendees.”

Leah didn’t say anything but just smiled at the reporter. After a moment of awkward silence the reporter turned to Kate and said, “Paris Emerson, you normally attend with your family.”

Kate opened her mouth to speak as the reporter looked at her expectantly, but after a brief glance at Leah she just smiled and took a step down the carpet bringing Ivan and Leah with her. Ivan whispered to Leah, “Aren’t you going to answer any questions?”

“I’ll answer questions but I don’t see any need to respond to asinine and obvious statements. All three of those statements were phrased to put us on the defensive.”

Ivan nodded slowly and then came to a stop just before the next reporter who was still finishing the previous interview. She was talking with a dignified older couple. Leah recognised the woman as the ex-President of the American Union. Kate said, “Each reporter is allowed a set time with the guests. I shouldn’t have stepped away without giving them another opportunity, but I didn’t trust myself to stay calm if they asked me something about my family.”

When the next reporter was free, Ivan led them forward and stopped in front of the woman. She said, “Hello, my name is Tiffany Claire from Frankie ’n Vogue. You three are an amazing divergence from this year’s theme. Where did you get these amazing outfits?”

Leah smiled and said, “These are from a new designer called Paige. She designed these specifically for tonight.”

“Is there a reason you decided to move away from the suggested theme?”

Kate said, “The Gala never has had a theme and doesn’t even suggest one. Every year, however, there is a secret theme. If someone can find out what it is and match it, then they believe they are genuinely one of the in-crowd. None of us feels the need to prove anything except to declare that we won’t be passively controlled by a small group of elitists.”

The next reporter was free so Ivan moved them on. This reporter had the advantage of time on her side and had been made aware of Leah’s presence despite Leah’s name not being on the guest list. The reporter stepped forward as Ivan, Kate and Leah came to a stop, and said, “Atherleah, people are already talking about your attendance here tonight, it’s so unexpected. When did you decide to come?”

Gèng had done some quick research on the reporter’s name and affiliation. Leah said, “Mariana, as I’m sure you know, even wanting to come to the Gala isn’t enough, you have to be invited. Ivan and I were thrilled to be invited by Meredith Kodoman just this morning, and she even paid for our first tier tickets.”

Marianna wasn’t sure what to say, but after what seemed to be some prompting from her producer, she said, “So Ivan, why do you think Mrs Kodoman invited you tonight?”

“I think she wants allies in the Dunyanin competition and this is a small overture or bribe to get my attention.”

Marianna looked utterly shocked at Ivan’s honesty and said, “Bribe?”

Leah thumped Ivan on the shoulder and said, “Don’t you listen to him for a moment, Marianna. Bribery is such a negative word. Meredith wasn’t really trying to corrupt him but just to offer a small inducement, a temptation even, to show how appreciative she could be if he helped her out occasionally. More of an ‘I scratch your back and you scratch mine’ kind of thing.”

Kate gave Leah a small punch on her shoulder and smiling sweetly said, “Marianna, don’t listen to Leah, we all know that if Meredith ever scratched someone’s back, they’d probably die from blood loss.”

Before Marianna could respond, Ivan nodded his head politely and stepped toward the next reporters. These two were from a top rating breakfast show, and they were looking very nervous. As Ivan stopped the female reporter said, “Ivan, it’s so good to see you again. What are you most looking forward to this evening, the pre-dinner canapés, the dinner, or the entertainment?”

“Definitely the entertainment.”

The male reporter turned to Kate and said, “Miss Emerson, this is the first time you’ve come to the Christmas Gala on your own. What do you love most about the Gala?”

“I’m not alone. I’m here with my good friends, Atherleah and Ivan. I’ve always loved the Gala as that special event when I could be with my family and enjoy an evening with them. I realise now that I was looking at everything through the lenses my parents held up in front of my eyes. I’m looking forward to seeing this Gala with my own eyes and making my own memories. I don’t think I’ll enjoy it as much, but at least my reaction will be more honest.”

“Thank you both for sharing with us.”

At that, the two reporters stepped back to conclude the interview. Ivan went still at the snub to Leah, and might have stepped after them except Leah placed her hand on his arm and said, “Chill Ivan, I’m sure they have their orders from higher up.”

The next three sets of reporters continued to ignore Leah and only talked with Ivan and Kate. The reporters in the second to last were from the premier Chinese news world CGNE or 中国全球新闻与娱乐. The woman stepped forward as the three approached and after a shallow bow, she said, “Greetings Ivan, Atherleah and Paris. Atherleah, your dress emphasises your Chinese heritage, how important is this heritage to you?”

After the reporter was identified by Gèng, Leah said, “I’m a child of three worlds Lìjiā. My father is a tenth generation Australian who still loves everything Irish, and my mother was from Xi’an in the Shaanxi Province. My parents taught me to appreciate who I was and where I came from without denying myself the opportunity to be myself and to love whatever comes my way, no matter how different it seems. I value my Chinese heritage because it shapes both who I am and who I will be.”

Lìjiā looked briefly at both Ivan and Kate before saying, “Ivan, Paris, please forgive me focussing on Atherleah, but she is very popular in China.”

Kate said, “That’s no problem at all. Some of the other reporters have ignored her completely.”

Lìjiā looked as if she wanted to pursue Kate’s reply but instead said, “Atherleah, you said you were from three worlds. What is the third?”

“Lìjiā, like most countries, Australia’s cultural identity doesn’t truly define everybody but is a synthesis of the numerous microcultures from which it is formed. I grew up in one of Australia’s negative tax communities, it shaped my understanding of family, honour, and community just as much as my mother’s ethnicity and her faith did.”

Lìjiā looked around and saw that her time was up and reluctantly stepped back to let the three go forward. The final pair of reporters ignored Leah, and neither Ivan nor Kate spoke of anything substantial before stepping away. With Leah in the middle, the three stepped toward the main auditorium. Gèng said, “How do you wish to be announced? Leah, Atherleah, Atherleah Carroll, Miss Carroll or Ms Carroll?”

“Atherleah.”

As they stepped into the opening at the top of the stairway, a small chime rang, and Leah could hear Gèng repeat their names sub-vocally. “Colonel Ivan Alexeyev, Atherleah, and Katherine Emerson.”

Atherleah turned to Ivan and raised an eyebrow and said, “Colonel?”

He gave her a grin and said, “I used to be Naval Infantry.”

Leah turned to look over the room. It was modelled after the Grand Ballroom in Vienna’s City Hall, although it was more extensive. Gold and silver Christmas trees were scattered around, and there was an abundance of metallic tinsel everywhere. Most of the three thousand guests had arrived, and the floor was a sea of mingling people. As well as the guests, Leah could see hundreds of wait-staff moving through the room with trays of food and drink. The interviews had been timed to give each group of guests just enough time to descend the stairs alone. As they made their way down, Leah could see a small group of people waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Kate said, “The one in the lemon chiffon is my mother, Julie. Dad’s not there but you know my cousin Tedrick. Next to him in the light silver is his wife, Lois. I don’t think he’ll recognise you as Charlotte.”

Leah smiled and said softly, “Oh, I’m sure he will.”

When they reached the last step, Julie Emerson stepped forward and said, “Ivan, it is so good to see you. I’m so glad Meredith suggested you join us this year. I’m sorry Gashka was unable to come, and I see you’ve brought Atherleah instead. It would have been better I think if you’d let me know who your guest was going to be so I could have planned accordingly.”

Ivan said, “Thank you for the invite. It was a last minute decision to accept Meredith’s kind offer, and some things slipped through the cracks. I hope you will forgive me.”

Julie’s mouth said, “Of course,” but her eyes made it clear he was never going to be invited to anything again if she had a say in it.

Julie turned to Kate and said, “Really, dear. I’m sure I suggested you wear something lighter. That colour clashes more than a little with your eyes. Why don’t you duck home and change? I’ll have Mr Peterson drop something off for you.”

“I’m fine, thank you, mother. I like this colour.”

Julie’s eyes tensed a little at the rebellion and said, “Paris Katherine Emerson, I’m afraid I must insist. Go and change!”

Kate recognised the use of her full name in that tone as one of the obedience triggers her parents had used throughout her life and especially since they’d taken control of her AI implant. She took a deep breath, and pushing down her anger she said, “Julianne Margaret Emerson, I’m very comfortable in this dress, and it matches my two friends.”

Julie’s eyes narrowed even further before she turned to Leah and said, “Atherleah, I’ve heard a lot about you. As I was saying to Ivan, I do wish you had given us a little warning. I’m finding it impossible to seat you where you deserve at this late stage.”

“That’s quite all right Jules. Ivan was saying we’d be at the main table with you, John and the Kodomans. I can’t think of a better place to be, and I understand that moving me at this late stage, especially after I’ve already got the ticket with the seating chart, would seem a mite churlish and even unfriendly to anyone who found out about it. I’m certain some of them would get the wrong idea.”

Before Julie could respond, Leah looked at Tedrick and said, “Hello Teddy, or was it, Ricky you preferred, either way, it is good to see you again. I’m glad to see you survived your little flying lesson.”

Tedrick stared and then his face turned white before he suddenly disappeared. Leah looked at Julie and said, “Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned his little aerial stunt. We’d best let you see to your other guests. I’m looking forward to maybe catching up with John before the night is out.”

As they moved off, Leah saw Lois disappear. Kate said, “Now they’ll know you are Charlotte. When are you hoping to confront Thad?”

“Sooner rather than later would suit me. I’m not really enjoying this very much. Christmas for us was always fairly small. It was always more about Christ than all this celebration. I feel a little uneasy using this event to sow discord instead of peace.”

Kate said, “It’s never had any faith connotations for me. Christmas was always about holidays, family, freedom from school and presents, lots of presents. I’d probably be offended if it ever became a religious event.”

“Why?”

“I think it would ruin it for me. I’d feel guilty and hypocritical because I don’t believe in God, and then the one really happy day each year wouldn’t be here anymore.”

Ivan joined the conversation as the three moved deeper into the room. People shifted slightly as they approached to minimise any chance of Leah, Ivan or Kate joining their group. A waiter approached and offered them some canapés. They all took one of the small appetisers and Leah was first to take a bite. Gèng said, “There is malware in the food, but I have isolated it: it will have no effect. I suggest you warn the others, although I suspect their security suites should have picked it up.”

Leah subvocalised, “You tell them because I don’t know who is listening. It is possible there are millions of people watching and listening in, particularly if Spectator is on board.”

A moment later Kate nodded but Ivan frowned for a moment before giving a curt nod. Gèng said, “Ivan’s security didn’t pick up on it straight away. He’s surprised it took so long as his military security should have been faster. He says a log of the attack will be sent to the GU and they don’t appreciate their officers, even their ex-officers, being attacked.”

Leah responded just to Gèng, “I’m surprised it was so blatant.”

The three continued to move through the room until Kate carefully touched Leah’s arm and said, “There he is. Thad’s with Dad, Karine, and Uncle Frank.”

Leah turned and after a very brief moment of hesitation, began walking toward a group of six which included the three Emerson men, an older couple, and a young woman Leah recognised as Thad’s oldest sister. Karine was the first to notice their approach and made a sharp comment which caused the group to turn and look at Leah. As she approached, the older couple moved slightly to let them join the group, causing John Emerson to frown.

Leah turned to the couple and said, “Hello, my name is Atherleah. I’ve already met Frank and Thad, and I recognise both Karine and John over there.”

Before the couple could respond with an introduction, John said, “You’ve a nerve coming here. I don’t know how you got in, but this is my wife’s Gala event, and I’d appreciate it if you left.”

“I’m sure you would, John but you know as well as I do that millions are watching us at the moment. They are maybe even listening in. Even you can’t afford too much bad publicity. I have a valid invitation, properly paid for and I’m not causing a ruckus, so why don’t you settle down and have a nice, polite conversation? I believe you know my friends, Ivan and Katherine.”

John turned to Katherine and said, “Paris, I’m disappointed you decided to arrive late, and with people you know I disapprove of. It would have been better if you were her standing with your family and welcoming our guests from the beginning.”

“Maybe, Dad, but then how would I have been able to support my friend Atherleah?”

“Paris Katherine Emerson, your family comes before friends. Go and join your mother!”

Katherine went very still when her father used the tone and code phrase. She said, “Mr Emerson, I am an adult and I plan on deciding what my own priorities from now on.”

John’s eyes narrowed, and he said, “If that is what you want, then so be it. I expect you to be packed and out of my house by ten tomorrow morning. Don’t take anything that isn’t owned by you.”

Katherine turned pale. Leah interrupted and said, “Wow, John, you certainly live up to the hype. Teddy said Frank was tough and Frank said you were way tougher than him. He said you had no mercy and I believe it after hearing you talk to your own daughter like that. It’s disturbing but it certainly shows that Frank knows you well. But if I’m totally honest, it doesn’t really mean much because Little Ricky is home crying because he’s afraid of heights and the last time I saw Frankie here, his brains were splattered all over a wall. If they’re the benchmarks for your high rating, then it isn’t very high. Why even Thad here couldn’t do anything. He promised he would get justice for Frank, but all he can do now is stand there staring like a big silent dummy.”

Leah stepped forward until she was less than a step away from Thad and then looking up into his eyes she said, “Are you getting a good look, Thad? I thought my image was burned into your brain by now. I thought Frank said when you saw me next you were supposed to kill me as painfully as you could. Well, here I am Thad. What are you going to do?”

Thad’s hands shot out and grabbed Leah around the neck. He began to squeeze as he lifted her toward him. Leah clamped her hands on his forearms to take most of the weight off her neck. She’d been expecting something but she hadn’t anticipated the ferocity of the attack. She’d told Ivan and Kate not to interfere with whatever happened because she couldn’t come to any harm. Even so, Kate couldn’t help crying out, “Thad, what are you doing?”

Thad turned from glaring at Leah, who was now just inches from his face and looked at Kate before turning back to Leah. His eyes opened in sudden recognition and then went blank. He held her just in front of his face for about ten seconds and then disappeared, dropping Leah. Kate disappeared immediately, and Ivan stepped forward to catch Leah around the waist before she collapsed.

John said, “Karine, go attend to Thaddeus.”

Leah took a breath as Karine disappeared and looked up to see John examining her. He said, “You should be careful what you say, Atherleah. You are fortunate that no harm can come to you at the Gala.”

Leah smiled and said, “Not physically, Johnny boy, but damage can be done. You cast your daughter out of the family home on live feed. How are you going to spin that? Your son has an uncontrollable temper. How are you going to spin that? I told Frank I’d hunt him down, but he’s really only ever been a stepping stone for me to get to you, John.”

“Are you really declaring a feud on a live feed, Atherleah? Among enlightened people these things are usually discussed in private. Why would you show your dirty laundry here at the Gala? Have you no sense of propriety or decency? We are here to celebrate a world at peace, and you want conflict. Let me explain something that you have unfortunately not have picked up, things your washed out father and your immigrant mother failed to teach you about the civilised world. Here we settle our differences without threat and bravado, without needless violence or crass innuendo. We discuss things hoping to find some common ground. If that doesn’t work, we find non-destructive ways to come to an agreement through compromise, tolerance and openness.”

“John, my washed out father taught me to stand up to bullies and to always act with honour whether I’m being watched or not. He also explained that peace sometimes can only come through conflict. My immigrant mother taught me that compromise at the expense of truth leads to corruption. Tolerance at the expense of integrity leads to oppression and openness at the expense of kindness leads to humiliation. I’ve just seen how your enlightened, civilised world works. You throw one daughter out of your home while your son attacks an unarmed woman.”

“Not so. I have disciplined a wilful child according to the law, and my son was taunted and harassed until he snapped. I will speak with him and probably have to get him some counselling, but it was you who provoked his behaviour by bringing a recreational gaming conflict into the public arena. Trust me when I say that the world will see you as the troublemaker here, not me. Now, I have much better things to do than talk with a fractious child.”

At that, John walked off, quickly followed by Frank. Leah had been hoping to keep John talking until she heard from Kate, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Ivan had an amused look on his face. When Leah asked him about it, he said, “This is fun. Who should we talk to next? Every time we talk to a group, some of them disappear.”

“I’m happy to leave now, Ivan. Confronting Meredith might be fun, but it won’t really achieve anything, and it might be counterproductive in the end.”

“You are probably right. Leaving on a high note is a good idea. Thank you for the evening, short though it’s been. The entertainment I can always watch at home, and it never makes sense to eat a virtual meal no matter who coded it.”

Gèng said, “I suggest you stay for little longer, Leah. Each of the people who were at the Ascendant are here. It will be useful to know who they interact with. The feed doesn’t cover the whole of the room. Getting Spectator on board was a good idea because people have been able to enter the Gala and zoom in and out looking for their favourite people. Even without more conflict, they are attracting a lot of viewers.”

Leah said, “Ivan, Gèng has encouraged me to stay for a little longer. Would you mind another walk around the room?”

“It’s OK. I’ve also been given some orders. I’ve been ordered to sample some more of this lovely food to see if I was intentionally targeted before.”

Ivan and Leah spent the next twenty minutes wandering the floor. In that time, Leah was able to observe five of the six people who were with Nathan and Meredith. Gèng noted the people they were with and began researching the connections. A chime sounded and everyone heard the announcement for guests to find their places in the main dining room, in preparation for the dinner.

Leah said, “Gèng, have you heard anything from Kate or Thad?”

“No. Reed, however, is in the server and has found where the location data is kept but hasn’t yet succeeded in gaining access. Reed says that since you arrived at the Gala, there has been a sudden increase in people registering to play. When Reed knows her location, you will need to log in so an adjacent starting position can be assigned.”

Leah said, “Should I start the process?”

“No. Reed wants the location before you enter Survival.”

“I’d finished here, but I’ll go have a few words with Nathan. If the increase of players is his move, then I think he’ll want to gloat.”

Leah let Ivan know she wanted to have a few words with the Kodomans. He held out his arm to Leah and led her into the dining room. The room was similar in style to auditorium although the shape was different. Instead of a rectangle, it was a semicircle with a large semicircular raised stage at the centre of the straight edge. Tables were arranged around the stage with those further away lifted slightly on elevated tiers so everyone could see the stage.

Ivan and Leah had been given seats on the first level in the centre. Each circular table sat ten guests and was designed to unfold into a semicircle when performances were on. Meredith and Nathan were already at the table when Leah and Ivan arrived. The place-cards had Ivan next to Meredith and Leah on the other side of Ivan. As they took their seats, Leah said, “Good evening Nate, hello Merry. I want to thank you so much for the invitation.”

Meredith said nothing but Nathan said, “Beware Atherleah, you’re poking a bear and that isn’t a good approach to survival. I suggest you either eat in silence or leave. My patience is finally at an end.”

“But I’m having such a blast. How about you Mahigan? Are you having a blast, or did you experience one recently?”

Leah had expected Meredith to lose it, but instead, she smiled and said, “I did Leah, it is Leah isn’t it? That is what your family calls you, isn’t it? I did have a blast, and it brought clarity to my perspective.”

Then turning the Ivan, Meredith said, “Hello Ivan, I was looking forward to catching up with Gashka, but it looks like she’s been replaced. Is your loyalty so fickle?”

Ivan said, “Not fickle at all, Meredith. Gashka encouraged me to bring Leah and introduce her to the wider virtual community. She felt this would help Leah know who her true friends are.”

“Friendships are fragile things, Ivan. They are so easily damaged by unfaithfulness and misunderstandings. Family is what really counts, Ivan. I mean, wouldn’t you let go of your friends to keep your family safe?”

Ivan went still then said, “No, I’m Russian. Anyone or anything that threatened my family would perish long before I had to make a choice of betraying my friends.”

While Ivan had been talking with Meredith, Leah had been watching Nathan who just stared back at her with an almost blank face. Leah could see the faint hint of a smile around his eyes. She said, “Ivan, I think maybe we should go. I don’t want anything to happen to Gashka, and it seems like Meredith would rather I wasn’t here. I don’t want to be an annoyance.”

Ivan looked at Leah in surprise but stood with her.

Nathan said, “A wise decision Atherleah but you are too late I think. Remember there are always consequences to every action so make sure you say goodnight to your family. Life is so very fragile.”

Leah gave Ivan a nod, and they logged out.

25

December 16, 2073 - Part 7

THE STORK TOWER

When Leah arrived back in the Tower, she said, “Nathan is the one behind the increase of people logging into Survival. Please ask if Reed needs any help?”

Leah focused part of her awareness on reviewing the material her friends had begun to compile about Survival. Simultaneously, she studied the official documents which described Survival and sent a message to John asking about others who might be able to help gather information in Survival.

She’d been working on this for less than ten minutes when Gèng said, “I have an email from Kate.”

Leah had Gèng project the text in front of her.

“Leah, the good news is that Thad let me into his space and after a lot of discussion and argument he agreed to have Thomas do a security sweep and check his space. The bad news is that as soon as it was done and as Thad became self-aware again, we were both ejected from our Pods. Mr Peterson and several of our family’s security goons were waiting.

Thad and I have been told we either agree to the family’s security suite overseeing our safety or we will be cut off from the family until we change our minds. We are supposed to be getting our personal effects together and have been given an hour to pack and leave. Our bank accounts are almost all family managed—we’d been directed to keep all our savings and spare cash in those accounts. They’ve all been frozen.

Thad is still coming to terms with what’s happened. I think he is too ashamed to contact you. I don’t think he’s even packing. He’s either slamming things around or sitting and crying. We have other friends and family, but at the moment I’m not sure who I can trust. While I’m not comfortable asking for help, I imagine you’d be infuriated if I didn’t, and I don’t want you angry at me. Please let me know if you can help.

Kate

Before Leah had finished reading, she’d already sent a message to Leon asking about the Pod centre in Sydney and one to Kate asking for account details for her non-family personal account. Leah received a reply from Leon’s AI that he was in-game and asking if it was urgent or if it could redirect the request to an assistant. Leah agreed and was connected to a woman in her twenties who said, “Ms Carroll, Mr Scorsese is currently out of the office. My name is Denise, how can I help?”

“Denise, I was wondering what the status was on the Pod centre in Sydney.”

“The lease has been signed, and there is a temporary security presence on site. Council approval has been given to re-classify the site as a privately operated Pod Centre primarily for educational use. Mr Scorsese has arranged for work to start in the morning to fit out the main building with cooking facilities, a unit for the manager and rooms for fifty Pods.”

“Please send me the details you have and inform Leon that I’ve a possible manager in mind.”

Leah had already searched for accommodation near the new site and booked two hotel rooms with Pods for Thad and Kate before she’d finished talking with Denise. She organised transport for them and their gear and then sent the hotel and transport information to Kate and asked Gèng to transfer ten thousand virtual credits to Kate’s account when it arrived.

She began to prepare an outline of the Brisbane Pod Centre to talk over with Kate and Thad when Gèng said, “Leah, Reed is in the server and has your mother’s location. Reed says if you want a spot beside her you had best hurry. People have been flooding to join the game in the last forty minutes, and there is only one adjacent place left. Reed can’t reserve a place but should be able to assign it to you when you register, as long as you choose the same options as she did.”

Leah stepped through the portal which appeared in front of her.

SURVIVAL

Leah arrived in a reception area with views of different wilderness areas and scenarios covering the three of the walls. The last wall was covered in testimonials from grateful clients. If Leah focused on any of them she could hear the comments. A tall, muscular man was sitting at the rear of the room, and a young woman sat behind the desk. When the woman looked up and smiled, Leah stepped forward and sat in the chair provided. The receptionist said, “Hello Ms Atherleah Carroll, my name is Lisa. How may I help you today?”

“I’d like to sign up for the Alien Survival scenario.”

“That is one of our most advanced courses. As this is your first course with us, we do recommend you try one of the less complex scenarios first or at least discuss this with one of our staff.”

“I appreciate that, but my mind has been made up.”

Leah went through the process of choosing her name and agreeing to terms, and then the receptionist said, “To finalise your options, you need to talk with Mr Wiseman.”

Lisa led Leah over to the man at the rear of the room, and after introducing her, she left Leah to sit opposite Mr Wiseman.

He said, “Atherleah, you have chosen one of our most advanced courses. I’m assuming you have read the options, but I’m here in case you have any questions.”

“Thank you, Mr Wiseman. I have looked at the options, and I’d like the jungle scenario with an empty pod, and by that, I mean no food, no water, and no weapons.”

“You do realise that all you will have is whatever you can salvage from the Pod and your clothing will be the what you would have been wearing when you entered the Escape Pod.”

“Yes, I am aware of the situation Mr Wiseman.”

Leah had Gèng pay the amount and signed all the documents. Finally, Mr Wiseman said, “When do you want to start the scenario?”

Gèng said, “Reed would like you to start now to ensure the right coordinates have been entered, and then you should log out until daylight.”

Leah said, “I’ll begin the scenario now if that is OK and then I’ll log out once the escape pod lands. I’ll stay on board and wait till daylight before playing.”

Mr Wiseman stood and shook Leah’s hand before saying, “You are certainly brave, but I think you’ll find this is a bit beyond your capabilities. That is not a criticism but even our most successful players find this a challenge. Don’t forget that we offer a cooling off period of seventy-two hours if you find it is more than you expected. Now please see Lisa and she will get you outfitted.”

Leah headed back to the front desk, and Lisa escorted her through a side door and down a corridor to a door labelled outfitting. Lisa knocked and together they entered the room. There was a bench with a man standing behind it. Lisa said, “Kevin, this is Atherleah and she’s doing the Alien Survival scenario.”

As soon as she’d introduced Leah Lisa left the room. Kevin lifted a pile of clothing with slippers onto the bench and said, “Atherleah, this is all you get in the no food, no weapons scenario. It’s not too late to change your mind. These clothes are durable but not really designed for that environment. They are for the highly refined environment of a spaceship.”

“I appreciate that Kevin, but this is what I want.”

“OK, then head back out into the corridor and turn left. When you come to a green door with the label ‘Alien Survival-Jungle’, go inside. You’ll see an airlock in front of you. After you get changed, put your right hand on the access pad and take a seat in the escape pod. The Scenario will begin as soon as you’re seated.”

Leah did as she’d been instructed and was soon dressed in the standard ship’s clothing. The clothing was a sturdy synthetic blend which was breathable and wicked moisture. It might provide some protection from thorns and small insects but would do little to stop anything more serious than that. The shoes were comfortable and suitable for indoors but would soon fall apart in the humid atmosphere of the jungle.

As soon as she was dressed, she placed her hand on the pad and stepped into the escape pod. It was circular and had seating for eight. Leah knew that under each chair was a cabinet which usually held survival gear and rations and under the floor was a space which usually held a cache of weapons, sensors and equipment for setting up a base if stranded. She strapped herself into the seat directly opposite the entrance. As soon as she’d clicked the last safety belt in place, the scenario began.

A timer appeared in the middle of the floor, and an alarm sounded giving feedback on the state of the starship Leah had apparently been a member on. “This is not a drill, abandon ship. All crew are to make their way to their designated escape pod. This is not a drill. The dark matter reactor is unstable and will fail in 120 seconds. This is not a drill, abandon ship. All crew are to make their way to their designated escape pod. This is not a drill. The dark matter reactor is unstable and will fail in 108 seconds.”

With thirty seconds left on the timer, the pod was ejected from the ship, and Leah could feel the change as gravity disappeared and the pod’s thrusters accelerated it toward the planet below. The timer in the floor in front of her disappeared, and the shell of the pod became transparent, allowing Leah to observe the planet below. The scenario didn’t give the planet a name, and each player apparently called it whatever they wanted. It was Earth-like in that it had polar regions and a tropical belt around the centre. Gravity was about ten per cent higher than Earth’s, and although the air was not toxic to humans, it did have less oxygen at sea level than Earth. Gèng interrupted Leah’s viewing to report that Reed had been successful in having Leah assigned to the area next to Lin’s. John had also entered the game and had been assigned a space adjacent to Leah’s but one space removed from Lin’s. Each play area was circular with a radius of 100 kilometres and touched six other areas.

Leah could feel the gravity increasing as they approached the planet and watched as the Pod passed through the atmosphere and heated up before slowing and heading toward the equatorial region. Leah was landing in the early hours of the morning, and instead of seeing the green and blue jungle that had been described, she saw the dark canopy outlined only by a faint violet phosphorescence that reviews described. They said it provided just enough light to see what killed you.

Leah was fifty metres or so above the canopy and slowing down when a chime sounded. Meredith’s voice came over the speaker system. “This pod will self destruct in ten-seconds, ten, nine, eight, seven.”

Leah couldn’t undo the straps holding her in because they were locked in place until landing.

“Six, five, four, three, two, one.”

Whatever Meredith had been going to say next was overshadowed by an explosion which ripped the escape pod apart, killing Leah instantly and spreading debris hundreds of metres across the jungle canopy in every direction.

—End of Book —

Ipseity Puzzle Answers

T-Junction Wall Puzzle

SHINRO PUZZLE

IQ PUZZLE

TANGRAM CROWN PUZZLE

Excerpt from Book 6 - Contest

SURVIVAL

In order for the multiverse to work, there needed to be clear communication and data sharing between the virtual world and the PAI of the individuals who accessed the worlds. When Leah entered Survival, Gèng was given read-only access to the positional and sensory cue matrices of everything expected to impact Leah that would require sensory cue integration and provide an active sensory flow for a period of five seconds. During the registration process, Gèng provided Survival with a full copy of Leah’s scans so they could prepare and manipulate Leah’s avatar. Gèng was given access to the gaming algorithms so she could pre-prepare a range of possible inputs to minimise her filtering and monitoring of the sensory input. But it was Survival’s AIs and algorithms who prepared and transmitted the sensory information to Leah’s neural system. Gèng interpreted Leah’s neural responses to the sensory cues delivered by the Survival AI, and she was responsible for applying real-time data to manipulate Leah’s avatar.

The explosion which killed Leah in the Survival world was not one of the pre-prepared sensory input sets that Gèng was expecting, but as Leah’s death was within the bounds of acceptable results she terminated the avatar and prepared to resurrect Leah in accord with Survival’s gaming algorithms. The developers, however, had not envisioned the possibility of a pod exploding while on approach and the resurrection point was preset to the final resting point of the escape pod. The AI responsible had to search through a range of options before coming to a decision.

There were times when the Pod came to rest in the fork of a tree, so the AI did not merely assign the resurrection point to the ground underneath where the pod exploded. Its search found a decision matrix to be used when a pod had exploded. This sometimes occurred when players made unsafe modifications to their downed escape pod. In these circumstances, the AI was supposed to calculate the material left behind after the explosion and the final resting place of the pod. It then calculated the damage done to the jungle and lowered the player’s resurrection point by the calculated amount directly under the Pod’s pre-explosion position.

Not all of the material had finished moving, and the AI had to apply several other decision matrices to finalise the data before it sent the sensory input set to Gèng.

Gèng was aware of the delay, but as it didn’t exceed the parameters set for signal loss or deterioration, she didn’t interrupt or apply any of her own sensory input to Leah. This left Leah in a similar cyber-situation to when she entered a portal, but without the interference and distortion caused by either the world’s or Gèng’s digital handshake. The delay was less than three-hundred milliseconds, but this was ten times longer than the usual length of a portal’s initiating-handshake. Leah’s new awareness of the cyber-verse noted the presence of a signal and not only sought to represent it in a way that Leah could understand, but she also increased her perceptual awareness to its maximum.

Gèng noted the increased neural processing immediately and applied a filter to hide the signal from the Survival server while she both tried to reduce the activity and sent Leah a message asking her to keep her neural speeds under tight control. By the time the Survival AI sent the new sensory input, Leah’s neural perception had returned to normal, and Gèng applied it immediately even as she evaluated it and sent a confirmation request.

Leah resurrected one point eight metres below the point where the Escape Pod had exploded and just over three metres above the forest canopy. Leah was unprepared and crashed through the canopy, which hardly slowed her fall. She bounced off several small branches and then slammed into a larger branch breaking her back. She slid off the branch and fell another fifty metres before hitting a branch with a diameter of two metres killing her instantly.

She would have resurrected instantly, but Gèng’s query was still being processed. Leah found herself in the same cyber-situation as before there was no interference or distortion. She momentarily increased her perceptual speed, asked Gèng to filter the signal and warn her when to slow down. Gèng had already applied a filter and said she had no control over the timing and urged Leah to return the neural processing to its normal speed. Leah waited for three-seconds before slowing down and then had to wait another two-seconds before Gèng said, “I’ve just received a message from the administrative AI. It says there has been an unexpected event and you can choose to cancel the scenario, restart the scenario, or continue the scenario. It estimates successful completion of the current scenario is less than one per cent.”

“Check if I would be returned to this position or another would be allocated.”

“This position will be quarantined until the error is identified.”

“Then I’ll continue the scenario.”

“The AI will continue the scenario but has sent the event log to a developer for consideration and confirmation. You will resurrect in three seconds.”

Leah was more prepared this time and tried to slow her fall by grabbing the smaller branches as she crashed through the top of the canopy. Unfortunately, her speed was too high, and her hands couldn’t grip sufficiently. The external surface of the branches ripped the skin off her hands. In addition, she managed to change her direction enough that she missed the branch that previously broke her back and was killed when her head hit a branch thirty metres further down.

She resurrected immediately. She let herself bounce off the smaller branches and tried to rotate her body to have her feet hit the first branch and use them to slow herself down. Leah didn’t get them around far enough and broke both legs as they slammed into the branch. As she fell, she tried to see what other options she had. She was killed when she hit the large limb further down.

On the twenty-sixth time as she resurrected, she began rotating as she passed through the canopy. Leah controlled her deflections off the smaller branches so that she fell past the back-breaker at just the right distance and angle that when she pushed off with her legs, she fell past a horizontal bough which she caught hold of and used to swing herself through an arc and slow her vertical velocity. On the twenty-fifth attempt, she’d grabbed the branch in the wrong place and impaled her right hand on a three-inch thorn which tore through her hand and held her back just enough that she didn’t make her destination, which was a one-meter diameter branch running parallel to her line of travel. This time she made sure to bring her hands closer together, and although the bough tore some skin from her hands, she held on long enough to flip herself onto the one-metre branch. Then in a combination of a step, a roll and a slide she came to a stop several metres from the bole of a colossal tree two hundred and seventy metres above the ground.

Leah looked around and couldn’t see anything immediately threatening. Her clothing had been destroyed in the explosion. All Leah had was a set of basic modesty gear provided by Survival, consisting of a black cropped athletic tank top with matching shorts. She had no footwear. She was due in Dunyanin soon and need some food and a break first. Leah said, “Can I log out from here and what are the implications for when I log in?”

Gèng replied, “You are not in danger and can log out. When you re-enter Survival, you will appear in the same location. Survival expects players to log out from places of relative safety and not in the open. They penalise poor location choice by leaving your avatar exposed in the exact place you log out from. The avatar is open both to attack and environmental damage. The effect is limited to two per cent of actual per hour of real time. In effect, if you log out while exposed to the environment, you will be dead within fifty real hours, but you will have accumulated enough damage within fifteen that you probably won’t survive. Wounds, rashes and the like do heal at an accelerated rate, but it is only double what would happen normally.”

Leah carefully made her way along the branch, moving away from the trunk and looking for somewhere safer to log out from. None of the information gathered had discussed plants and animals this high up in the canopy, but she kept a look out for the large variety of dangerous flora and fauna that had been discovered. About twenty metres along the branch Leah came to a section of the branch which was clear of other foliage and after checking for insects, she was about to log out when Gèng said, “A developer from Survival would like to discuss your decision to stay in the scenario with you. He is available now and suggests you meet in his office, or he can come to the Tower. Otherwise, I can make an appointment for later in the day.”

“Do you have a suggestion of what would be best?”

“Both locations will be private enough for a frank discussion. You will have more control in the Tower.”

“Let’s meet in the Tower then, but at the new gazebo.”

After a final review of her situation, Leah logged out.

THE STORK TOWER

Leah appeared near the Tower’s entry podium wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Gèng appeared beside her and said, “I’ve reviewed your experience while waiting for the Survival AI to resurrect you and think you should also review it before heading into another world.”

Leah nodded and said, “I planned on it. The pieces began to resolve into a more defined picture even before I left and I’ve some idea of what the final form might be, but I do want to examine it more closely. I assume you’ve isolated and contained the recorded data.”

“I did that as a matter of course, but I have also increased my monitoring of all internal data allocations.”

“I thought I’d better wait until I can give it my full attention rather than simply multitasking. I’ll review it before Dunyanin.”

“I think that is best. Go rest in the gazebo, and I’ll bring the developer, a Dr Lundin, over when he arrives.”

Leah walked over and took a seat in the gazebo and looked out over the moonlit valley while she waited. When a tall, thin man appeared on the podium, Gèng stepped forward and said, “Dr Lundin, my name is Gèng, Atherleah’s Personal AI. Please follow me, Atherleah is resting in a nearby gazebo.”

“This personal space is exceptional. I don’t think I’ve seen one quite as complex before. Did Atherleah commission it especially or is it off the shelf?”

“Leah and I have been working on the design since her entry into the virtual multiverse. It is still very much a work in progress.”

Dr Lundin didn’t reply as they were approaching the gazebo, and he could see Leah. As they approached, Leah stood and said, “Welcome to my personal space, Dr Lundin. Thank you for agreeing to meet here. I was a little stressed when I left Survival and needed the familiar space to clear my head.”

Dr Lundin put out his hand to shake Leah’s and said, “Please call me Cody. I do apologise for the situation in which you found yourself and wanted to suggest that we re-set the scenario. You are in an un-winnable position at the moment.”

“Before we discuss options, could you explain what happened?”

“I wouldn’t normally admit this, but the word is that you prefer honesty and won’t be unreasonable. Now, as far as I can tell, the situation is a result of two separate cases of external influence on our servers. The first was almost three days ago when a small condition was added to our registration process, this placed a bomb whenever someone with your ID number registered in the Alien Survival Scenario. The second was when you registered. It allocated you that particular location on Ukusinda.”

“Ukusinda?”

“Sorry, that’s what we call the planet for the Alien Survival scenario. We have closed both the access points used to hack into our system, and we’ve upgraded our security. It does look like you were targeted specifically and I’d recommend you let us re-set the scenario as it is the only way that we can provide the experience you have paid for. Your current situation will lead to almost certain failure.”

“Do you know who hacked you?”

“No. Both incursions were very professional. We have asked virtual security to investigate, but I doubt they will find anything. Logic might point to those who you appear to be publicly feuding with but there is no evidence to support that, and we would not suggest it.”

“There was a voice file that played before the bomb exploded. I thought the voice was recognisable.”

“It may have been but that file was erased immediately, and although we recovered it in its entirety we could never use it as evidence.”

Leah sat for a few moments thinking through her options and then said, “I am content with the scenario and wish to remain where I am. Is there any way to redefine the resurrection point?”

“We could, but that change will add to the pressure I’m already receiving to re-set your scenario. The only reason I haven’t is because the word in the developer community is ‘play nice with Atherleah’. I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop the re-set, and I wanted to explain that to you in person. Survival is embarrassed this has happened, and they are serious about wanting to rectify the situation. At the same time, as they think this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t registered to play, and that means they think you have an ulterior motive for playing that might hurt us in some way.”

“Cory, I need to keep the current scenario, and I will do almost anything to retain that opportunity. I know why you were hacked and I know who hacked you. There is a reason I am playing this scenario, and someone has a reason to stop me doing so. If I shared this information with you, would you be able to keep it confidential or would you feel obliged to share it?”

“I’d almost certainly be required to share it with my superiors. Even if I agreed completely with your need to continue, I think the issue will soon be taken out of my hands.”

“Who would I need to convince?”

“Either the CEO, the Head of Programming or a majority of the Management Committee would need to be convinced. Because of the security breach, this situation is being referred to their level as we speak.”

“I’d rather just continue to play the scenario. I want to do that quietly and without any public interest. My lawyer will draw up a statement that I want the virtual scenario that I have paid for to continue unchanged and that I accept any loss of experience and do not hold Survival responsible in any way. However, and this won’t be in the statement, please let your boss know that if Survival cannot provide me with this opportunity then I will look for a more public avenue to seek redress from Survival for the harrowing experience I suffered while playing their game and their inability to provide a safe and satisfying experience.”

“If you did that, they would share every detail and put all the blame on you.”

“Trust me when I say they have no idea how bad the publicity would be. I’m willing to privately share the details with the CEO or the Head of Programming before they make their decision, but I’ll do it publicly if they decide to reset the scenario.”

“When do you plan to re-enter Survival?”

“I’m due in Dunyanin soon. I’m being pulled in several directions, but I’ll probably enter Survival for a real hour around ten, ten-thirty, this evening Australian Eastern Standard Time.”

“That’s a long time to hold off on making a decision. I know three hours isn’t long, but we’re used to having to decide these things instantly. Another crisis will probably arise before then. How soon before you can get your lawyer to draft that statement?”

“It is already finalised and ready to send. Do you want it or should I have it sent to your legal office?”

“That was quick. It was almost too quick.”

“I have an efficient AI and a lawyer who knows the details.”

“Send a copy to me and one to the legal office. I will recommend the Head of Programming meet with you, but I’d suggest before you go to Dunyanin.”

“I’ll make the time. I’m taking a fifteen-minute reality break and then I’ll be free. If they can’t meet then, let me know and I’ll head straight to Dunyanin.”

Cory agreed, and after saying goodbye, he left the Tower. Leah logged out.

REAL WORLD

As the Pod cover lifted, Leah opened her eyes to see Marie resting in the chair. Marie said, “Hi Leah, Mia will be here in a minute, and then Dr Kevin wants to recheck the stitches.”

Leah needed help to exit the Pod, and after a quick shower, Kevin checked the wounds. Leah had a late snack before preparing to head back to the Pod. While she ate, she checked for messages from Kate and was pleased to hear that Kate and Thad were checking in to the hotel she’d arranged. Kate hoped to be online within the hour. Leah contacted Amy and Wisp and suggested they talk with Thad. As Mia and Marie helped her into the Pod, Gèng said, “The Survival CEO has agreed to talk with you and will be arriving as you log in. I’ll bring you straight to the gazebo.”

THE STORK TOWER

Leah arrived back in her world sitting in the gazebo and dressed in the same jeans and t-shirt as before. She looked up and saw Cory and an older man walking up the path to the gazebo with Gèng. She stood as they arrived and Gèng said, “Atherleah, this is Mr Jesse Hood, the CEO of Survival.”

Leah shook hands, and after they had all sat down, she said, “Mr Hood, thank you for meeting with me. I hope this means you are open to me continuing the current scenario.”

“Ms Carroll, to be honest, I’m more inclined to refund your money and block you from using Survival, but Cory here, along with several members of my Management Committee, would rather we come to a mutually agreed upon solution. I’m concerned that my world was hacked, not once but twice. I’m upset that it is being used for what I can only imagine is the continuing drama of your public feud with the Kodomans. I don’t mind putting up with bad publicity, but I was convinced, as the most ardent proponent of telling you to take a hike, that if you could convince me then, we’d let you do what you want. This world has been my dream for decades, and I don’t want you or anyone else to destroy it.”

“I see. Will you agree that, if I convince you to let me continue the scenario, you will do nothing about the issues I discuss without my approval and you will not share the information with anyone either inside or outside your company?”

“I agree. What about Cody? I’d like him to hear this.”

“If he makes the same agreement and you take responsibility for his adherence to it.”

“Deal.”

Leah began with the theft of the Annoyance and described her mother’s abduction and rescue, the explosive chip and what would happen if Nathan got to her first. She didn’t name Reed but admitted she’d arranged to get the location near her mother. When she’d finished speaking, she leaned back in her chair and watched the CEO.

Finally, he said, “That’s some story. Why tell me and not go to the authorities?”

“Three reasons. The first is that I haven’t told you everything and some of the other stuff the authorities do not want to be revealed. The second reason is that I haven’t told you everything and some of the other stuff I don’t want the authorities to find out. Lastly, I haven’t told you everything and the authorities are controlled by the Kodomans and people like them. They’ll have my mum killed and lock me away.”

“You expect me to believe you rescued your mother from the wicked Kodomans?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t I just set you down near your mother?”

“Because I don’t know how far your company has been infiltrated. I was only able to arrange for two locations near her while someone else managed to place people in the next closest thirty-four locations. If you check your map, you’ll see there is a cluster around her that is impossible if your algorithms were applied without manipulation. I don’t know what else may have been inserted in your code that could be triggered if I just arrived there.”

“You’re suggesting there have been more than two breaches and that I have someone in my organisation working for the Kodomans.”

“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m stating facts. My hacker is fairly sure they know who it is, but we don’t want to spook them because they may provide us with access to people higher up.”

“If what you said is true, then you are playing with your mother’s life.”

“No. I think not identifying the person gives her more security and the other issues, unfortunately, might have greater long-term importance.”

“Bigger than your mother’s life?”

“Yes.”

Mr Hood turned to Cody and said, “Cody, go for a walk so you can’t hear what we are saying.”

As Cody stood up, Gèng appeared and said, “Cody, why don’t you walk with me. I’ve some questions that I’ve been hoping to ask a world developer.”

As the two left the gazebo, Mr Hood said, “I’ve been in the multiverse for almost forty years, and I’ve watched a lot of people communicating silently in that time. Your AI arranged that diversion on her own. What level is she?”

“Is that the question you wanted to ask me, Mr Hood?”

“No, it was just an observation. I’m almost convinced by your story, but I need more. Tell me something pertinent to each of the three reasons you mentioned. I promise not to reveal these even if I don’t believe you.”

Leah considered her options and finally said, “OK.”

“What don’t the authorities want revealed?”

“There is malware that exists which controls someones PAI and turns the person into a virtual slave. It is estimated over 250 million people worldwide are being controlled.”

“Why didn’t Nathan just use that on your mother?”

“It can be cleaned from a PAI and can be worked around any number of ways.” Leah spent a few minutes discussing the different reasons as Nathan had described them.

“OK, I’ve actually heard the rumours but what you say is crazier than I’d ever imagined. What don’t you want the authorities to find out?”

“I hacked the Virtual Security Vault and extracted an archived AI. They are calling me Vernyx.”

This time there was silence for half a minute, then Mr Hood said, “Again, I’ve heard rumours. Why retrieve the AI?”

“She is my friend.”

“And finally, why do you think they control things?”

“The AI who uncovered the malware that was used to enslave people and who rescued me is the one Virtual Security archived in the Vault.”

Mr Hood sat and looked at Leah for several minutes while she let him think. Finally, he said, “You have an agreement. I will do nothing to change your scenario without your approval. Do you want me to change your resurrection point?”

“Not yet, Mr Hood. Your Head of Security is the person who works for the Kodomans. If he gets wind of the change I’m not sure what he’’ do. I’d prefer you stormed out of here and told the Management Team that I was the biggest pain in the butt you’d ever met and you wanted no one to give me any assistance. Maybe suggest that Cody is assigned to make sure I get no assistance. That way, he can watch for tampering, and nothing will get back to the Kodomans.”

“Call me Jesse. If we can’t help you, what will you do?”

“It’s a race to get to my mum. I’ll find a way to get closer, but I’ll also work with her to make sure they can’t find her. Just knowing I’m not going to get pulled from the scenario is a weight off my shoulders.”

Jesse looked up and saw Cody and Gèng walking toward them. He looked at Leah and said, “How did you arrange that?”

Leah laughed and said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jesse.”

Jesse turned to Cody and said, “We’re heading back and I want you to follow my lead. I’m going to be angry at Atherleah and rant a little bit. You need to play along.”

Before Cody could answer, Jesse turned back to Leah and said, “Be careful and let me know if we can help in any way.” Jesse then disappeared, followed immediately by a slightly confused Cody.

* * *

As soon as they left Leah said, “I’m running out of time for so many things. I’ll have a look at the cyberspace, and then I need to get to Dunyanin for the coronation.”

CYBER-SPACE

The two walked to the Tower in silence. Gèng had shifted the spaces around, so the place she had set aside to review the cyberspace was just at the top of the stairs. Leah closed her eyes and increased her perceptual awareness to maximum and stepped into the room. The signal was uninterrupted and without distortion. Leah had seen it when she’d been in limbo while waiting to be resurrected, and her mind had already started to make connections between the signal and different elements from her experience in the cyber-verse as well as the sensory items she’d downloaded from the Annoyance.

She’d already increased her rate of perceptional awareness, but now the newly formed neurons began making even more connections. Leah appropriated two of the four-dimensional matrix-processors in her PAI chip and started to work through the meaning of the different signals, trying to understand the relationship between each of the disparate images. Slowly a complete image coalesced, and she understood it. It had taken just under ten minutes real time even though she’d been staring at the signal for almost eight hours cyber-time.

Leah said, “Run it through from beginning to end.”

The room cleared and then Leah felt, more than saw, the approaching being. The temperature dropped, she was surrounded by a yellow mist which darkened imperceptibly transitioning through burnt orange past deep red until it felt like it coagulated into a solid darkness. Sounds began to invade the room as she heard the frozen mist fracture as the creature broke through the barrier of its own construction. A stale wind brushed past, bringing the sweet stench of decaying fruit mixed with the sour taste of spoiled meat. The being’s form was hidden in shadow, but it seemed to slither and fly rather than walk or glide. Its body trailed behind the head like a smear or smudge, but the face at least was clear. It was a man’s face, except for the eyes which were orientated vertically so that when they blinked the eyelids moved inward from either side. There were no eyelashes and the sclera was the same colour as the Iris, a deep violet. Each pupil was red, small, and shaped like a crescent. The face noticed Leah’s gaze just before the signal ended and a voice she’d heard before although this was pitched softer, lower and had a touch of menace, whispered, “Impressive, you can see me. To think, you were not a test, but a thief. You took their secrets, and you stole mine. But I found you, and I see you. Atherleah, you can never escape or hide from me. I will ...”

The message ended abruptly when Leah had been resurrected.