The XP: Chapter 14

Spirit flats is one of the starting areas for new character. Based on the idea of an old west mining town that was deserted by most of its residents the zone is filled with low level thugs, wolves, and introductory quests to help new players get a handle on the way the game works. Most of the buildings have fallen apart due to neglect but the General Store Bank and Bar is nearly immaculate. The front of the building is a large covered porch where an older man sits in a rocking chair smoking his pipe. He lowers the pipe and squint into the heat of the late afternoon to see the outline of a new player walking into town. The old man waves a hand. “Over here sonny!” He shouts. The figure in the distance notices the old man and changes directions to head for him.

It has been years since Torcano started a new character and everything about the gunslinger class feels weird and slightly off. As he makes his way toward the old man on the porch a desperado steps out from the ruins of the old bank. Torcano pulls his pistol and guns the desperado down. He takes another step toward the General Store Bank and Bar and two more desperado’s appear from behind the half burned out apothecary shop. Torcano’s pistol nearly jumps from its holster, and he effortlessly spins the gun between his shots, dropping the desperado’s easily. He turns back to face the General Store to see Three new desperado’s standing between him and the old man. Each with rifles leveled at him. His hand hovers over his holster. The riflemen squint and adjust their grips. By the time the third riflemen would have re-seated the stock into his shoulder he and the other two are filled with bullet holes and dying on their knees.

The smoke cleared from Torcano’s pistol and he Holster’s it a third time. The old man is nothing but a smile behind his pipe. “Howdy pardner, can I trouble you for a favor?”

Torcano puts his right foot up on the porch. “S’why I’m here.” He replied.

“This little town has had more than it’s fair share of problems.” The old man gestured to the abandoned and burnt out buildings with his pipe. “A local gang of desperado’s has descended on the town and their burning everything not worth stealing. I’d be much obliged if you did whatever you could to get them to leave town.” The old man put his pipe back in his mouth.

Torcano nodded. “My pleasure.” He replied and turned around to face the ghost town. The six desperado’s had yet to despawn and didn’t count toward his quest completion. Exasperated Torcano took a seat on the steps of the porch. Sighing heavily as the Old man continued to rock in his chair. In the distance a tumble weed blew across the main road. “Beautiful day.” Torcano observed, accepting that he could do nothing but wait for more desperadoes.

The old man nodded from behind his pipe. “Yeeeeeap.”

Another outline of a player entering town appeared and Tocano stood up a it came toward the General Store with the speed of serious purpose. Torcano knew who it was long before the player was within targeting range. “Ooooof course.” Torcano grumbled to himself. Before he could reach for his pistol bullets tore through his legs just below the knees dropping him to the ground causing him to lose his grip on his gun as he fell. The new player kicked Torcano’s pistol well out of his reach and moved over to where he was laying on the ground. His shadow covered Torcano’s face as he looked up to see his attacker. “Vrage, took you less time to settle old scores than I expected.” Torcano admitted.

Vrage lifted his boot out of the dirt and dug his spurs into Torcano’s cheek. “Yeah? You gonna try and talk me into leaving you alone? Try to make me feel petty maybe? Convince me that we can settle this after you’ve dealt with your brother?” Vrage shoved his foot causing his spur to draw blood on Torcano’s face.

Torcano recoiled from the cut but then shook his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He wiped blood from his face. “Do what you came here to do.”

Vrage pulled a machete out from the back of his belt and inspected the blade. “You in a hurry Torcano? Got somewhere to be perhaps?” Vrage asked in a mocking tone.

Torcano squinted into the sun. “You always were a dick Vrage.”

Vrage looked down at Torcano and shook his head. “Now, now, that wasn’t very nice.” He clicked his tongue and went to work. 

The old man never moved from his rocking chair.

University of Console Heroics: Chapter 14

Thompson is completely asleep on the couch. His Adventure studies book splayed open on his chest. The first few knocks at the door get no reaction. But as they continue He sits up suddenly, dropping his book to the floor. “Coming!” He told the door, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. He made his way across the living room and opened the door to discover Cynthia on the other side. “Cynthia.” He said in surprise.

She didn’t even look at him, she just stared at her feet. “Look I wouldn’t have come but I didn’t know who else to turn to.” She admitted.

Thompson hesitated for a split second and then moved out of the way to let her him. “Come on in” He welcomed her.

She hesitantly walked into the Apartment. Thomson closed and locked the door behind her. There wasn’t much more than the couch, a coffee table, and the tv in the living room so she ran out of things to look at quickly. “I see you haven’t changed your decorating style.” She said, glancing at him quickly.

Thompson smiled in spite of the tension. “What can I say?” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m a simple guy.” His sarcasm was desert dry.

She shook her head. “We both know that’s not true.” She was still trying not to look at him.

He stooped down in an attempt to catch her eye line. “Cynthia are you ok?” He asked.

She raised her gaze to meet his and he could see she was holding back tears. “are you?” She asked.

Thompson looked away and out his living room window, avoiding the question.

“Of course I’m not ok!” Cynthia exploded. “I lost my best friend and my partner last semester!” She couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. Thompson took a step toward her and she stepped back an equal distance.

Thompson shook his head. “You never lost me.” He said quietly.

She shook her head. “Don’t lie to me, I deserve better than that.” She chastised him.

His eyes were locked on his feet. “I, I didn’t want to hurt you.” He looked up at her and saw fury in her eyes.

“Yeah, well you’re doing a really horrible job.” She growled.

Thompson shook his head. “You don’t understand.” He started.

“How could I?” She interrupted. “You cut me out completely after last semester and now you can barely even look at me.” She accused.

Thompson met her gaze without wavering. “I’m sorry.” He started. “I really am. Do you think this is what I wanted?” He asked, waiting a second before he continued. “Because it’s not!” I’m just trying to keep the people I care about safe!” He exploded and wave of blue flamed burst off his shoulders.

Cynthia saw it but didn’t flinch. “From what?” She yelled back. “Ever since Professor Daigo died you’ve been acting so strange.” She took a step forward. “Please just talk to me” She asked, taking another step forward. Thompson stepped back in response.  “I know you two were close, but he’s gone –“

She reached out her hand and Thomson spun while pushing her hand away. “I don’t want you to be next all right!” Thompson moved around her to the other side of the living room.

She cocked her head to the side. “The next to what Dean?” She asked. She followed him and he let her get close enough to touch him. “I miss you. I miss my friend, and I miss my partner.” She admitted to him. Dean was looking at his feet again. “You can find another sparring partner.” He barely whispered.

Cynthia smiled, she lifted his chin until they were eye to eye. “I never thought of what we did as fighting. It always felt more like, dancing.” She said.

In a flash Thompson held Cynthia in the starting position for a waltz. “So you miss dancing then?” He asked. Waltzing around the living room with her. She smiled and let him lead for a few steps but then incorporated some leg strikes into the movements. Thompson shifted his footing, blocking and parrying her attacks out of instinct, caught himself and stopped dancing. “I thought you said you wanted to dance?” He asked.

Cynthia smiled sweetly at him, batting her eyelashes. Thompson continued the dance, changing to a salsa. Again she let him lead for a few steps but turned his spin into a spinning back fist which he caught and locked her arms up in defense. “You know what I mean.” She replied.

He let go of her wrists and stepped back. “I don’t dance like that anymore.” He stated sadly. She didn’t hesitate for even a second before full on attacking him. His instincts took over and they were fighting at full speed, Thompson stuck to blocks, parry’s and holds that would allow him to manipulate Cynthia into more dancing but all of her pent up anger and frustration was exploding out of her and he was never able to hold her down for long. As the struggle over fighting and dancing continued she resisted the dancing less and less until he Had control of both her wrists. Her back was to him and so he spun her around so they were face to face. He leaned in until they were almost lip to lip.

“I missed this.” She closed her eyes and nearly tackled him to ensure the kiss.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 18

With less than five minutes left Kelly was using her manual controls to move the right arm as safely as possible over to the left to try and expose the secondary power unit in the left arm. The leviathans tentacles had let go of Blinding Light’s limbs but the chest tentacle was still tightly wrapped around the mecha.

Any time Kelly tried to move the arm faster than what felt like a snail’s pace the pressure of the water would cause parts of the arm to buckle and crush. The timer counting down on their breathable air did nothing to relax the rest of the Shades. Finally she was able to maneuver the arm into position and tore as much of the outer shell away from the secondary engine as she could without causing too much damage to the engine itself. She tried one last time to expose more than just the front third but the fingers on the right hand finally went dead. “Ok Dante.” She said. “It’s all you now.

Dante rush through the command interface for the left arm. He reaching the manual start up for the Blade of Blinding Light. The screen denied him manual access several times in a row. “COME ON!” he slammed his fist into the screen, cracking it.

The tentacle around Blinding Light’s chest tightened causing all of Blinding light to shudder violently. The view screen cracked deeply and the air timer reached its last minute. Dante scrambled at an angle to the door and awkwardly left the command station to make his way to the left arm. His angry voice coming over their helmet. “We’re not going out like this!” He yelled. The other shades tried to stay calm while they waited for their last hope. Kelly managed her breathing like she was swimming long underwater distances. Sonya made her way over to Dante’s cracked console attempting several more times to summon the Blade of Blinding Light. Each time the error window popped up denying the action. “Try it now!” Dante yelled over the intercom. The other shades could hear fire and sparking wires behind his voice. Sonya desperately pressed the button multiple times as the timer was flashing zero. She started slamming her fist into the screen and suddenly the backup engine roared to life unleashing a huge electric charge that exploded out into the water and crawled all over the body of Blinding Light.

The electricity agitated the Leviathan enough that it loosened its grip on Blinding light. Gordon had already passed out and had fallen from his chair to the floor. Warren was slumped over his console. Sonya moved to reach her console but fell over onto her knees and lost consciousness. Kelly scrambled as quickly as possible to Sonya’s console and pressed the emergency jets as her vision started to blur.

Blinding Light began to slowly jet away from the Leviathan and moved towards the surface. Kelly was having serious trouble staying conscious as she elevated Blinding Lights speed to maximum. The Mecha was moving toward the surface as Kelly saw the deep dark ocean blue outside the view screen get lighter and lighter. She tried to push the speed bar higher but the console replied with a broken error tone. Blinding lights right arm was ripped off as the legs and waist jets propelled the Mecha back to the surface.

Water began to leak in through the view screen like they had cracked the wall of an aquarium. Kelly felt like she was dreaming as she saw beautiful blue sky blue light just before she hit the floor.

Blood and Profit: Chapter 41

Eamon had never been incredibly successful in the actual work of school. His talents were more in the area of people, specifically in getting them to like him. And of all the academic areas, the sciences had held his attention the least. So when he felt his mind leave his body as if it had been strapped to a rocket ship it threw him for a loop. At first he was floating above the planet but it disappeared along with all the stars in the sky until he was floating in the empty darkness of eternity. Then in the distance he saw a dazzling wave of infinite colors charge toward him. It passed over him and he turned to watch it makes its way through the infinite darkness leaving the elements in its wake that would gather together to become suns, planets, gas clouds and nebula. Before his eyes A star was born and within the range of its heat and immediate light planets formed and began their journey around the star that had helped form them. Some of the planets developed life and that life inevitably reached space and began to reach out to other stars.

Eamon’s consciousness pulled up further until he could see galaxies like tide pools, some more active than others. Some of the species that had reached the stars were able to create vast stellar empires. Until Eamon saw the ribbon of lights at the edge of his vision, retracing its steps. Washing over dead planets and galactic empires without care or mercy, when the wave had gone there was nothing but the beginnings of matter again, pulling together to form stars and go through the entire dance once more galaxies rose and fell in the empty spaces between the passages of the ribbon of light. The interstellar tide did not always travel to the same point, some waves were weaker than others. The weaker waves gave the races on the outer edges of the tideline a chance to escape, racing into the stars always aware that they would never know just how far the tide might reach and that likely no planet was safe for permanent settlement. He saw the Starseeds in their great spacefaring trees in a constant drive to stay ahead of the next galactic high tide. They were further out than any previous race had ever made it as far as they were aware and it was beyond the edge of known space that they found this furthest of the human colonies. It had to be life from a wave so ancient that no galactic tide had reached this area of space in uncountable eons. Some of the Starseeds wondered if the tide might ever reach this far again.

Eamon heard no voices in his vision, he saw no words. He was aware of the history of the Starseeds and their quest for survival as if he had lived it himself. The impossible beauty of the galactic span went dark again and he opened his eyes. He was back in the forest with his sister and the Starseeds. The one touching his forehead lowered its arm.

He gave his sister a mistrustful glance. “How can I prove that I wasn’t just brainwashed?” He asked.

She glared back. “How successful is a brainwashing that allows the subjects first question post brainwashing to be ‘how do I know I wasn’t just brainwashed.” She spat back.

Eamon shrugged and pointed to the Starseed standing next to his sister. “So, they’re here now, they’ll eventually leave, what’s this all got to do with us? He asked.

She shook her head. “Close your eyes. Remember what you were shown. Tell me when you have it in your mind.” She said.

He closed his eyes. I’ve never been off planet but I can remember what it looks like from space.” He said confusedly.

She smiled. “That’s not a memory, that’s our planet now. Some of their consciousness is still in orbit around the planet and we’ve both been loosely tapped into it.” She said.

He shuddered. “Because that’s not creepy at all sis.”

“Shut up and listen to me, you can complain later.” Look away from the ring. Like opposite side of the planet and focus as hard as you can.” She told him.

Even with his eyes closed he scrunched up his as if he was trying to squint at something. “Oh my god, it’s that ribbon thing!” He shouted.

  

“Actually that would be a ribbon coming at us from a completely different direction.” She said.

His eyes opened in a flash. “There’s more than one of those things!” He yelled.

The Starseed standing next to Mew finally spoke. “We’re here because in our desire to outrun the galactic tide, it never occurred to us that there would be more than one wave. But it is coming this way, and we could not in good conscience leave you behind.” He said. “We are here to save you.”

Lidarion: Chapter 13

With the sun set in Lidarion, the lamplighters were making their way around the city. They moved in pairs one for each side of a street. Alex watched at the pair assigned to the street outside passed by the windows of the bar, bathing the street in soft yellow lamplight. She walked back to the table with fresh drinks. And rejoined the others. “So Alex, how did you come to be responsible for everyone’s favorite man child?” She asked.

Lisa accepted her next drink from Lisa as she explained. “We met in the early years of the war. He and Bernard had been training together before they were placed in the same unit. A unit that would be placed on the front lines of the Tarsands offensive.” Alex and Squints flinched. The Tarsands offensive was the bloodiest battle of the war by far. The humans had tried to assault the orc’s coastal infrastructure in broad daylight. The Lidarion military’s chief strategist had assumed that as a nocturnal species the orcs would be less prepared to defend during a full frontal assault at high noon. It turned out to be a mistake that cost nearly uncountable lives. “They barely survived, Trent arrived in Saintcitia in a coma, and Bernard had several deep slashes on his arms and back. Three weeks into Bernard’s recovery Trent finally woke up, by that time I had already fallen for Bernard.” She explained.

“And where is Brandon?" Squints asked.

Lisa reached down and picked the sword sheath up. “By my side, where he’ll be for the rest of my life, as he promised.” She set the sheath down.

Squints stared deeply into his drink. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” He stumbled over the apology.

Lisa shook her head. “There’s no way you could have.” She admitted. “But our plans were meant for us, and now that he’s gone it’s time for me to figure out where I’m going to go and what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.” She started to cheer up.

Through the window Alex saw a shadow cross over the window. She stood and crossed over to the hallway entrance on the back wall of the bar. “I’ll be right back but I want to know what brings you to Lidarion? And how did you get Trent to come with you.” She asked.

Lisa turned to watch Alex as she got up and moved to the hallway entrance on the far side of the bar. Alex turned down the hall and stopped at her back door. The knock at the back door was so faint that she would have missed it if she wasn’t actively listening for it. She opened the door to a figure in a robe with its hood up. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get word to you. This isn’t a good time. In fact it’s probably the worst possible time.” She said.

Back in the main area of the Bar Trent and Lisa were listening to Squints talk about the state of the library district when Alex called from down the hallway. “Trent can you come here please?” She asked.

Trent got up from the table and left Lisa and squints. He quickly disappeared around the corner of the hallway. It wasn’t long after that Lisa and Squints heard the sound of a slap echo back into the bar. They both jumped up from the table and ran to the back hall. Alex was pinching her nose with her thumb and forefingers, Trent was holding his cheek and there was a beautiful brunette in a cloak who was absolutely furious. “Trent what’s going on?” Lisa asked.

Trent turned to look at Lisa. “Lisa I’d like you to meet her Royal majesty Princess Brooke.”

Squints face palmed and Lisa’s jaw dropped. 

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.

University of Console Heroics: Chapter 13

The intro to energy midterm is over. The class is awkwardly sitting around Foster who is proudly sitting in the rest of the room. Electric red fire rising up from his shoulders.  He is sitting with his legs crossed but he has a predatory shit eating grin spread across his face. He was staring at Cynthia who was staring right back, somewhat less than pleased.

She uncrossed her legs and stood up. “Class dismissed.” She didn’t have to say anything else. Everyone else in the class scrambled to get their things and quickly vacate the room. Not a single one of them looking back in Fosters direction. Foster uncrossed his legs and the fire on his shoulders was snuffed out. He leaned back assured of himself. Cynthia sat in front of him but further back than normal. “Well, I guess he felt like talking.”

Foster looked at his right hand “Not exactly.” He replied.

Cynthia waved her hand referencing the red flames. “He must have helped you in some way.” She said.

Foster walked a red flame up and down the tips of his fingers in the same way that Thompson had. “I wouldn’t call it helping, it was more of an awakening.” He said closing his fist and snuffing out the flame. Giving his best attempt at a disarming smile. “Cynthia, there is nothing to worry about, everything is under control.”

His overeager assurance pushed her over the line into worry and concern. “Under the control of what Foster?” She asked while getting to her feet.

Foster joined her in standing. “This was your idea, remember?” He accused.

Cynthia turned away from him to grab her bag. “Then I was wrong for sending you to him.”

Foster held out his hands at his sides. “How can you say that this,” Foster exploded in full body flame. “Is wrong!”  

Cynthia felt the heat and turned to face him, backing up against the front wall.  She glanced at the open classroom door and Foster brought the fire back under control. She angrily grabbed her back and walked over to the door.

Foster killed his flame and grabbed his shoes. “He wants to see you…You know that right?” He offered.

Cynthia stopped packing her bag. “He is welcome to see me whenever he likes.” She spat her answer over her shoulder.

Foster pulled his second shoe on. “How about tonight? He asked me to pass along an invite to dinner at his place.”

She shouldered her bag and turned to face him. “He could have just called me.” She said.

Foster shook his head. “Fear of rejection turns every man into a coward.”

Cynthia moved forward until she was aggressively in Fosters space, and even though he was taller than she was, she stared him down. “And power turns every man into a liar.” She growled, leading Foster to look away in submission.

“What makes you say that?” He asked.

Cynthia moved to the door. “Dean knows that I would never turn him away. Therefor you are lying.” She accused.

Foster looked at his feet. “I thought it was what you wanted to hear.” He admitted.

She left her reply behind as she walked through the door and out into the hall. “Think again. Get your head on straight Foster, cause something in you isn’t right.”

Foster waited until he heard the front door of the building close behind her and punched the classroom wall.