The XP: Chapter 13

The park had nearly cleared of players. After the event fireworks they had cleared out to go run content until their matches began, The End of the World Club was oblivious to the fact that they were standing in the middle of the empty area, desperately trying to come up with some kind of plan.

Blackout was pacing back and forth while talking to himself like a crazy person. “Hey Cypherion, it’s Blackout, it’s been a while, have an opportunity for you, hit me back when you get this.”

Stygian and Bob watched him pace back and forth. “Jesus Bob please tell me I wasn’t part of one of these desperate telethons.” He looked at her.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’d remember how eager you were to comeback before you define desperate for me.” She snapped, then caught herself. “Sorry, I’m sorry. That was really bitchy. “She turned to face Stygian. “We only ever thought of you, if you hadn’t come back it wouldn’t have been right to call anyone else.” She said in an awkward attempt at making amends.

Stygian looked down at her. “If that’s the case then why not call Torcano.” He asked.

She looked like she had been slapped and took a step back in shock. “I, He, That’s not the same thing.” She stuttered.

Blackout stopped pacing. “Cypherion isn’t answering his phone, Galtir is in the middle of a pretty nasty divorce and Vehbune is in prison for the next 15 to life, which makes us the mayors of scewedsville. Also when this is over, so like, right now, we should really re-evaluate our social connections.” Blackout looked around the empty park. “Where’d Trart go?” He asked, causing Bob and Stygian to look around as well.

Back at the Front entrance sign Trart approached The Matriarch who was alone now, still sitting and knitting. “Miss, uh, misses, um, The Matriarch?” He asked finally. “I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier.” He offered.

She shook her head without taking her eyes off her knitting. “No worries.” She replied warmly.

Tart stood there in awkward silence, something on his mind. When she realized he was still there she smiled. “What’s on your mind son?” She asked.

“I have a question but I don’t want to sound rude.” He explained.

“Why did I choose to look like an an old woman?” She asked.

Trart looked even more embarrassed but nodded.

The Matriarch put her knitting away. “You ever seen a movie called “The Soalarbabies?” She asked. Trart shook his head. “Put in in your queue, you’ll like it. Basic idea is that if I look like this and can earn the reputation I have earned than everything I have done, I did because of my genuine skills and abilities. There is no intimidation factor to my avatar. I am an old, fat, woman. The only intimidation I possess is the power of my reputation.” She explained.

Trart nodded. “Then why not play in the games?” He asked.

She smiled sadly. “Because my reputation is powerful enough now that even in this avatar a fair fight is impossible. My name causes analysis paralysis even in the best of fighters. So after the games The Matriarch will disappear and I will be just another name in a sea of scrambling players. Free to once again to find the only real challenge that exists in any game, a fair and honest fight.”

“You’re trying to grab smoke.” Trart blurted out.

The Matriarch looked confused. “I’m what?” She asked.

Trart worked his way through an explanation. “You can do whatever you please, but changing your name and creating a new avatar won’t get you any closer to a ‘fair’ fight because you’re still the one at the computer. Changing your name isn’t going to magically increase the skill level of the player base, it will just convince people who never stood a chance against the real you in the first place to unknowingly feed your ego, what’s fair about that?” He asked. The Matriarch was stunned. Trart suddenly realized just how bluntly he had spoken his piece and it caused him to flinch. “Please don’t kill me, I’m pretty sure I’m soul bound like twenty five zones away.”

The Matriarch stood up. “With Torano gone your guild is short a member yeah?” She asked.

Trart dropped his pathetic defensive stance and stood upright again. “Um, yeah.” He replied.

She smiled. “You’re not short anymore.” She held out her hand. Trart looked at it and then smiled at the Matriarch as he eagerly shook her hand.